The French government has ordered Apple to immediately stop selling the iPhone 12 in the country over concerns that the phone’s electromagnetic radiation levels are higher than the maximum safe limit, according to France24.
France’s Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) announced its findings in a press release. ANFR states that they have found the iPhone 12 to exceed the maximum allowed Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit for wireless devices as set by the European Union. SAR measures the levels of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the user when a wireless device is held at different distances away from certain parts of their body, such as from limbs or face.
The SAR limit is set at 4 Watts/kg when the device is held in the hand or tucked in a trousers pocket. ANFR says that tests performed on the iPhone 12 show that the device emits SAR levels of 5.74 Watts/kg, therefore exceeding the maximum limit.
Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
Travel the world stress and hassle-free with the best eSIM service available. Enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds, and global coverage for affordable prices with Holafly. And, enjoy an exclusive 5% discount.
As a result, ANFR says it has ordered Apple to “withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market, effective 12 September 2023.” The regulator has also demanded that Apple recall every iPhone 12 sold in France if emitted radiation levels cannot be lowered via a future software update or other “corrective measures.” France intends to share its findings with other EU member states regulators.
Apple in a statement to the BBC has denied ANFR’s allegations, stressing that it intends to challenge the regulator’s findings. Apple adds it had already provided the ANFR with in-house and independent lab results which show that the iPhone 12 already complies with safe SAR limits. The iPhone 12 is already compliant with radiation levels regulations everywhere else around the world, Apple adds.
France’s digital minister Jean-Noel Barrot already signaled that he won’t hesitate to formally issue a recall and ban on all iPhone 12 sales in the country if Apple doesn’t cooperate. The company is expected to respond within two weeks at most, added the minister.
