French to ban mobile sales to kiddies

NEW LAWS are due to be introduced by France's Environment Minister, Jean-Louis Borloo, which could ban the sale of mobile handsets for children under six while ads to those under 12 would also be banished.

Just like the UK government four years ago, the French have waited until just after December (when everybody gives handsets as presents) to act.

Although in the city of Lyons, ads bearing the message - "Let's keep them healthy, away from mobile phones!" - did actually appear before Xmas.

The UK seems to have forgotten the recommendations put forward by Sir William Stewart of the UK's National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) back in January 2005.

He suggested a higher age limit - eight years old - for mobile phone ownership while those under 14 should use mobile phones only when absolutely necessary, Prof Stewart suggested.

Curiously, Stewart was more realistic in his recommendations by suggesting that children should be encouraged to text rather than talk on their phones.

The French appear to be looking at laws to ensure that every handset is sold with a hands-free cable. It's never going to be cool for kids to use one of those.

The European Parliament has joined the bandwagon by voting 522 to 16 to ask European governments to introduce stricter SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) ratings which would reduce radiation limits.

The last time the INQ checked, the European Union has set a limit of 2.0 Watts/kg as a threshold value while the USA has set a ceiling of 1.6 SAR W/kg. µ