Regulations that set limits for human exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) for the Amateur Service have now begun. The regulations cover all apparatus licence transmitters and came into effect on the 1st of March, although some commercial radio systems have been given time to adjust to comply with the new limits.

The Wireless Institute of Australia as previously reported considers the EMR limits are not onerous for the average radio amateur and amateur station. An article on the EMR exposure limits appeared in the February edition of Amateur Radio magazine.

The Amateur Licence Condition Determinations (LCD) have been amended to reflect the new EMR limits that ensure a transmitter is operated at safe levels for general public exposure to radiation.

The Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) limits for amateur stations that were expected to begin on 1 July, 2002, have been delayed at least six months.

The Australian Communications Authority (ACA) had planned to implement the EMR human exposure limits through the Licence Condition Determinations for apparatus licences including amateur stations.

However, the ACA has now advised the WIA that it has decided to delay the issuing of the new Licence Condition Determinations to mandate the EMR exposure limits, until it can formally adopt a new radiation exposure standard.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency has developed a new Radiation Protection Standard Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields 3kHz to 300 GHz.

The EMR limits that have been proposed by the ACA are based on the lapsed Australian and New Zealand Standard AS2772.1 - and not the new standard.

In practice, there is little difference between the two standards, at least as far as the Amateur Service is concerned.

The adoption of the new standard won't significantly change the EMR limits already proposed by the ACA and publicised in the June edition of Amateur Radio magazine.

In the meantime the WIA recommends that radio amateurs continue to be sensible with the use of RF energy, and keep in mind the proposed EMR limits when installing antennas.