The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has issued:
- the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Amendment Rules 2021 (No.1)
- the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Energy) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No.1)
According to ACMA, these instruments amend its electromagnetic energy (EME) regulatory arrangements. They incorporate references to the new Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARPANSA) Standard – Radiation Protection Standard for Limiting Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields – 100 kHz to 300 GHz (2021) – and ACMA’s equipment supply regulation relating to EME into the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021. These are also known as the General Equipment Rules.
This means the supply of certain radiocommunications equipment and operation of radiocommunications transmitters must comply with the EME exposure levels specified in the new ARPANSA Standard.
The instruments that have been amended are:
- the Radiocommunications Equipment (General) Rules 2021 under the Radiocommunications Act 1992
- the Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2015
- the Radiocommunications (Body Scanning – Aviation Security) Class Licence 2018.
As part of these changes, ACMA has repealed the Radiocommunications (Compliance Labelling – Electromagnetic Radiation) Notice 2014 and the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Radiation – Human Exposure) Standard 2014. Its EME equipment supply regulation is now set out in the General Equipment Rules.
The final instruments include some minor amendments after consultation. Full details, including the consultation paper, submissions and outcome of the consultation are available on the ACMA website.