Subject:  Re Warning labels on cellular phones in USA (fwd)
Date:     Wed, 13 May 1998 140829 -0500 (CDT)
From:     "Roy L. Beavers" <rbeavers@llion.org>
To:       emfguru@hotmail.com
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 10:09:07 -0400
From: Bertha Dumpe 
To: rbeavers@llion.org
Subject: Re: Warning labels on cellular phones in USA (fwd)


Roy:  Dr. Goldsmith is correct. He approached Israel's Knesset
(Congress)where the request for labeling belongs. Congress is the only body
that can mandate labeling for any product, including electronic devices. No
court has jurisdiction over the labeling of products. The Food and drug
Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction, which was accorded the Health and
Human Services (HHS). FDA, a branch of HHS, is charged with the monitoring
to ensure the safety of medical devices, food and medicines (drugs). In
other words, FDA is responsible to see that anything that comes in contact
with people is safe; induces NO HARM. For this reason, before the new
health and safety RF exposure guidelines were ADOPTED by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), the FDA insisted that a BOOK DISCUSSING
POTENTIAL HAZARDS MUST ACCOMPANY ALL CELLULAR PHONES SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. I
do not believe this is mandatory, but STRONGLY RECOMMENDED, which means do
it. Therefore, you'll find that the phones of Motorola and other
manufacturers are packaged with such manuals. This is the closest FDA has
come to labeling phones, which may create a greater panmic or awareness
than the WARNING LABEL on cigarettes. After all, only a few people smoke
and there is little money in tobacco, as compared to the tremendous present
and potential richly profitable market for high-tech products.

One study conducted by Dr. Dainoff for the National Institutes of Health
(NIOSH), also a member of HHS), stipulated (paraphrased) that "at all costs
we must refrain from doing or saying anything that would hurt industry."
[!!!!!!!??????guru]
This is exactly what happened in 1964 when color televisions were found to
emit excessive x-rays. The director (Dr. Villforth) of HHS (then Health,
Education and Welfare (HEW) played with the public's safety. He allowed
color televisions to deluge the marketplace. Children and adults got sick
from the excessive radiation. Villforth refused to do anything that would
harm industry. The situation worsened. The Public Health Service (PHS) also
part of HHS, marched on industry. Congress stepped in. Mr. Paul Rogers,
Florida congressman, called for legislation. He wrote to the US president,
"Mr. President, the people must not be subjected to hazardous products. We
must ensure that manufacturers correct products that are on the market and
in commerce (being moved between states), etc". ***The Radiation Act of
1968 was born out of the color television fiasco.*** Also FCC was
instructed to label televisions, and adhere certain instructions to the
units. So you see, this is what must happen with labeling; Congress must
strike with the order to place labels on electronic devices. Congress
attempted to do so 3 times The bills died in the Commerce committee to
which all interstate matters, like the movement of goods and services, are
referred..

On March 25, 1993 Representative George Miller, California US congressman,
introduced a bill (HR 1494) called the "Children's Electromagnetic Field
Risk Reduction Act of 1993," that was to mandate labels on all electronic
products. On May 25, 1993 it died in the Energy and Commerce committee. On
April 2, 1993 Mrs. Byrne, congresswoman from Virginia, introduced HR 1665
cited as the "Electromagnetic Labeling Act of 1993." It died immediate in
Energy and Commerce; no action taken. On May 5, 1993 Mrs. Byrne again
introduced a bill (HR 1982). On May 28/ 1993 Energy and Commerce killed the
bill by demanding no action would be taken. Since then, Congress has given
up the idea. Whatever the FDA does in this regard will have no
congressional backing, and therefore can be overturned by any court unless
FDA redefines ALL ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS as medical devices. You think the
federal government is ready to do this, or allow it to happen?

Bert

[....Sounds to me like a total absence of accountability when it comes to
protecting the public's health.  All the "forces" of our system just
'naturally' end up protecting the manufacturers....  That could be
changed, you know ... by a public that was aroused and determined.....
First, of course, the public must have the knowledge......guru]





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Reprinted with permission of Roy Beavers, http://www.feb.se/EMF-L/EMF-L.html