Through
the ACMA, Australia has a system for ensuring that radiocommunications
equipment imported into the country meets acceptable standards in terms
of its potential to:
-
cause
electromagnetic radiation
that is harmful to humans - EMR:
-
cause
electromagnetic radiation
that is harmful to licensed radiocommunications - EMC: or
-
suffer from
interference from
licensed radio communications services - poor receiver characteristics.
The
Australian radiocommunications import control regulatory system has
been designed to be transparent and efficient, in order to maximise the
benefits of market competition for industry and consumers. These
controls are required in order to permit the ACMA to fulfil its prime
responsibilities in terms of achieving efficient use of the radio
spectrum.
The
real potential danger levels of electromagnetic radiation, EMR, have
simply not yet been quantified adequately by valid scientific
epidemological studies,
although there has been much speculation in the media and academe on
the effects of mobile phones.
Fact Sheet The ACMA is concerned about
protecting the health of Australians, however it has legislated
authority only in respect of equipment that is intended to be used for
radio communications. Australian health standards in this area are set
more generally by ARPANSA.
Nevertheless,
to address the public concern about mobile phones, and
radiocommunications antenna towers in general, the ACA has mandated
the
Electromagnetic
Radiation — (Human Exposure) Standard 2001
|
More information on
standards regulation can be
found on the ACA web site - ACMA
standards.
I items such as
radar that use radio waves for
navigation are included in the definition of radio communications and
are therefore within the regulatory power of the ACMA. However, some
industrial or domestic items that generate radio waves, such as
microwave ovens and welding equipment, have the potential to interfere
with licensed radiocommunications, and the ACMA is empowered to control
them because of its statutory obligation to promote efficient spectrum
use through managing interference.
In order to place
as many radio services as
possible into the radio spectrum it is necessary to ensure that they
all use receivers that are not susceptible to interference from other
services operating properly outside of the necessary minimum operating
frequency range of the subject receiver. Excessive receiver bandwidth
and sensitivity can result in complaints of interference from services
that are operating properly. Cheap designs may have poor receiver
characteristics and therefore all equipment must be approved before it
is marketed.
The
ACMA is
aware that most countries are concerned about these standards
issues and have regulatory provision for managing them which include
laboratory testing and equipment type approval. 
ACMA Compliance and Labelling Requirements
The
Government does not want to impose a barrier to trade through
additional testing requirements for equipment imported into its
relatively small market. The Australian regulatory regime therefore
accepts competent approved overseas testing. It also employs the
maximum possible degree of self regulation
|
