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Cell-phone radiation disclosure ordinance continued one week after business and legal concerns
Summary
The Board continued consideration by one week of an ordinance requiring retailers to disclose specific absorption rate (SAR) values for cell phones, after supervisors cited small-business and liability concerns and asked the Department of the Environment and the City Attorney for clarifications.
An ordinance amending the Environment Code to require retailers to disclose specific absorption rate (SAR) values for cell phones was continued one week after supervisors raised questions from small-business owners and from the City Attorney’s office about posting and liability.
Supervisor London Breed Maxwell (referred in transcript as Supervisor Maxwell) introduced the legislation, saying it was meant to give consumers “complete and accurate information on potential human health and environmental impacts associated with the products we use.” She cited a World Health Organization report that recommended further study of mobile-phone use and brain-cancer links.
Supervisor Jake McGoldrick (referred to in transcript as Supervisor Alioto Pier and others) and other supervisors asked for time to work with the Department of the Environment and the small-business community to address posting requirements, indemnity language, and operational burdens on small retailers who sell multiple phone models and whose inventories change frequently.
Star Terrell of the mayor’s office and Mark Westland of the Department of the Environment told the board the mayor supports the legislation and that staff had worked with small-business stakeholders and the Small Business Commission to craft a phase-in and educational program. Westland said the department added an extended educational phase and materials for retailers and that the Small Business Commission recommended approval with the substitute legislation.
Supervisor Maxwell urged the board to move forward but consented to a one‑week continuance so the department and city attorney could address outstanding questions and small-business concerns. The roll-call vote on the motion to continue was nine ayes and two noes.
The ordinance will return for further consideration after the Department of the Environment and the City Attorney provide additional responses on liability and compliance and after staff works with small-business stakeholders on posting and implementation.
