No more headphones in the box of smartphones in France
The headphones included by default in the box of smartphones sold in France, it’s over. The bill on this point has been voted on by Parliament and will soon appear in the Official Journal.
The end of mandatory headphones in the box of smartphones
Patrick Chaize (Les Républicains), senator from Ain, is at the origin of the bill aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology in France. He chatted with Frandroid to confirm that smartphone manufacturers will no longer be required to include headphones in the box for models sold in France.
Originally, France imposed the presence of a hands-free kit for health reasons, in order to limit exposure to radioelectric emissions. This explains why the manufacturers must offer a “special” box for France: because it is necessary to include headphones. Other countries do not have such a law.
Article 14 quater, introduced by the deputies of the National Assembly after first reading, indicates that manufacturers must ensure “The availability of headphones compatible with the terminal model during its marketing period”. And as the senator explains, “Article 14c […] eliminates this obligation to provide headphones when selling mobile phones ”.
What about health, suddenly? The senator explains that bodies of international expertise, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have refuted the idea that there is a cause and effect link established between exposure to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones and chronic pathologies.
No more headphones or charger
There is an important point to take into account: smartphone manufacturers will technically still be able to include headphones in the box. Nothing prevents them from doing so. The only difference is that they are no longer required to do so. And we might as well say it right away: we suspect that the vast majority will simply stop including them. This will allow them to put forward the argument of ecology, as many do (they have already removed the chargers from the box). In addition, it is positive in terms of logistics because they do not need to create a box specific to France. And then it allows the passage to save some money.
All of this will gradually fall into place. We must wait for the publication of the decree in the Official Journal. There is no date yet.
