Televisions and Video Display Monitors
- Description
- Risks/Benefits
- Advice to Users
- Laws, Regulations & Performance Standards
- Industry Guidance
- Other Resources
Description
Video display products that contain cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can give off x-rays. The CRT is a specialized vacuum tube that receives and displays images on an electronic screen. Most modern computers monitors and televisions (TVs) today use liquid crystal display (LCD), Light-emitting diodes (LED), or plasma.
In the early 1960s, some TVs with CRTs were found to emit excessive x-radiation, and a federal performance standard was created to protect the public from this hazard. Today, electronic technology for TVs and computer monitors with CRTs has changed so drastically that the level of risk of x-ray exposure is almost non-existent. Manufacturers of products that use CRTs must certify that their products comply with the federal performance standard for the life of the product.
Risks/Benefits
TV receivers and computer monitors containing CRTs no longer pose a risk of emitting any x-radiation. Since the creation of the federal performance standard, the FDA has tested hundreds of TV receivers and computer monitors and rarely encountered any that were unsafe.
Advice to Users
- We Want You to Know About Television Radiation (July 14, 2006)
Laws, Regulations & Performance Standards
Manufacturers of electronic radiation emitting products sold in the United States are responsible for compliance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), Chapter V, Subchapter C - Electronic Product Radiation Control.
Manufacturers of televisions and video display products are responsible for compliance with all applicable requirements of Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (Subchapter J, Radiological Health) Parts 1000 through 1005:
1003 - Notification of defects or failure to comply
1004 - Repurchase, repairs, or replacement of electronic products
1005 - Importation of electronic products
In addition, TV receivers and monitors with CRTs must comply with radiation safety performance standards in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (Subchapter J, Radiological Health) Parts 1010 and 1020:
1010 – Performance standards for electronic products: general
Required Reports for the Televisions and Video Display Monitors Manufacturers or Industry
- Exemption from Certain Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Television Receivers and Computer Monitors with Cathode Ray Tubes
- FDA eSubmitter
Industry Guidance - Documents of Interest
- Date of Manufacture Label on Radiation-Emitting Consumer Electronics
- Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff - Addition of URLs to Electronic Product Labeling
- Variance Application Process