About to apply safety standards for smartphones in Vietnam

This is a requirement in Circular 19 of 2024 promulgating national technical regulations related to specific absorption rates (SAR) for handheld and body-worn radio devices. The Circular takes effect from February 15, 2025, applicable to testing, certification and declaration of conformity. Terrestrial mobile phones will have to comply with SAR standards before being circulated from July 1, while other devices such as laptops and tablets will apply from July 1, 2027.

At a conference to disseminate and guide the implementation of the circular with companies such as Apple, Samsung, mobile device distributors, and testing units in Vietnam this week, the Radio Frequency Department – Ministry of Science and Technology explained that the application period is longer than one year to create conditions for units to prepare and overcome difficulties before officially applying.

SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is an index that reflects the amount of radio wave energy that the human body absorbs when exposed to a broadcasting device, such as a cell phone. To evaluate, laboratories will measure at direct contact locations such as the head, trunk or limbs, with units of watts per kilogram (W/kg).

In Vietnam, national technical regulations do not apply SAR limits on the whole body, but limit SAR to 2 W/kg for the head and trunk, averaged over 10 g of tissue, and 4 W/kg for limbs such as arms and legs. SAR measurement range is applied in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 6 GHz, covering most of today’s popular radio technologies.

According to the representative of the Technical Center of the Radio Frequency Department, SAR measurement is particularly complex and the testing time is long, so businesses need to proactively plan. Currently, Vietnam has five testing laboratories that meet SAR measurement requirements according to new standards, using modern measurement systems such as robots and electromagnetic field sensors or sensor matrix technology. The Center also works with units to optimize the process, reduce the number of tests based on design analysis and transmission technology, shortening measurement time while still ensuring reliability.

The representative of the Frequency Department also emphasized that all parties, from manufacturers, testing units to state management agencies, need to coordinate closely to ensure that the application from July 1 does not affect the introduction of smartphones to the market. In addition, the regulatory agency will also consider recognizing foreign laboratories under the MRA mechanism to minimize the risk of testing overload in the country.

Having SAR standards is considered a step forward in safely controlling radio radiation, contributing to improving product quality for users. Previously, smartphones in Vietnam still largely met international safety standards, but control was not standardized or required synchronization.

According to the Technical Center, around the world, many countries and developed regions have developed SAR standards to control radio wave exposure, especially with devices used close to the body such as smartphones or walkie-talkies. In the ASEAN region, 9/10 countries have implemented management of this index.

“Vietnam’s SAR standards are built in harmony with international practices, applying recommended exposure limits and measurement methods according to international standards,” said a center representative.

Along with SAR standards (QCVN 134:2024/BTTTT), businesses are also guided to meet electromagnetic field compatibility standards for terminal and auxiliary devices in mobile communication systems (QCVN 86:2025/BKHCN)