According to Telecom Paper the Swiss Federal Council will not loosen their strict radiation limits but still has decided to proceed with the expansion of 5G networks, despite concerns among part of the population and  some cantonal governments that have passed actions to halt 5G until safety research is performed. News headlines read “Swiss refuse to back down on 5G radiation standards, hampering rollout.” 

The Swiss Cantons of Geneva, Jura, Kriens, and Neuchatel had voted to halt the  5G rollout (no new permits) until safety is assured. Over 260 municipalities in Italy and many cities in Ireland, Greece , Slovenia, PaPua New Guinea and the UK  have taken action to halt the 5G rollout until safety is assured. In the United States, cities from Santa Barbara, California to Keene New Hampshire to Clearwater Florida have taken action to halt 5G.  In Byron Shire Mullumbimby, Australia citizens are peacefully protesting because the town of Byron Shire passed a resolution to halt 5G. Yet, 5G equipment is being placed on cell equipment.

Despite industry claims of “no proof of harm,” the reality is that scientific research has found a myriad of harmful effects from wireless frequencies.  There simply are no studies in humans nor in animals that have been completed where living beings were exposed to 5G for a lifetime. However there are studies that have investigated the frequencies to be used in 5G.

The Swiss Federal Council based its decision on the report of the “Mobile Communications and Radiation” working group, which assessed the expansion of 5G and its impact on health. However, the members of the group were not in agreement and could decide on a recommendation as to if and how radio-frequency radiation limits should be changed.

The Swiss government has a radio-frequency radiation limit more protective and stricter than most countries and industry wants the country to loose their limits (allowing increased levels)  in order to deploy 5G. The working group divided into various recommendations that ranged from  increasing the allowable radiation limits to maintaining limits and imposing stricter procedural measures.

However, the Federal Council stated they wanted to maintain the current radiation limits ​​to protect the population from non-ionizing radiation.

The decision of the Swiss Federal Council is detailed online here. This summary showcases how the Swiss government has more protective measures in place for children and neighborhoods. it also states very clearly that there are effects “other than thermal effects.”

“Because there are various well-supported observations from research that there are other effects than thermal effects, the NISV also sets precautionary values. These so-called system limit values ​​(AGW) for mobile phone radiation are around 10 times lower than the emmission limit values ​​and amount to 4 to 6 V / m. They do not have to be observed everywhere, but only in places with sensitive use. These include in particular apartments, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, permanent workplaces and children’s playgrounds, i.e. places where people spend a long time. The investment limits in these places are intended to keep the long-term exposure of the population low.” 

The Federal Council will put in place the six measures suggested in the report to expand mobile networks, including  further development of techniques to monitor the effects of exposure to radiation on health, and improving information to the population about mobile radiation.

The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) will develop guidelines for the new adaptive antennas, which send signals in the direction of the user, following measurements to test the impact of the radiation on the population. Until then, adaptive antennas must be considered as conventional antennas, the Council stated.