Averted Controversy
Samsung Electronics’ newest smartphone, the Galaxy S5, will not be categorized as a health care instrument, despite having a heart rate sensor, freeing it from regulations that would have blocked its launch.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on March 17 that it plans to revise the current law to distinguish heart rate sensors used for leisure purposes from those serving medical purposes.
“The Galaxy S5 is technically a medical device under the current law, but it will be excluded from the category after the revision of the related clause,” an official from the ministry said, adding, “It will take around 25 days for the amendment.”
Major countries such as the United States, Japan, and Britain have already adopted a similar categorization system.
Samsung’s Galaxy S5 smartphone is the first in the local industry to come equipped with a built-in heart rate sensor. The smartphone can also be connected to smart watches like the Gear to monitor one’s heart rate when exercising.
The feature had raised concerns over the release schedule of the Galaxy S5, as the local law stipulates that medical devices, when defined as equipment used to diagnose, must be approved by the ministry before being sold in the market.
The Galaxy S5, which was introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, will be launched in major global markets on April 11.