France Bans Sales of iPhone 12, Threatens Total Recall
Apple has just unveiled the iPhone 15, but it can no longer sell the iPhone 12 in France and is facing the prospect of a total recall due to phone's radiation emissions being too high.
As Reuters reports, France's National Frequency Agency (ANFR) carried out tests on the iPhone 12 and found its Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was higher than legally allowed according to EU regulations. SAR measures the rate at which energy is absorbed per unit mass by a human body when exposed to a radio frequency electromagnetic field. The limit is 4 Watts/kg for limb-SAR, but the iPhone 12 was found to emit 5,74 Watts/kg.
Until the radiation level is brought within legal limits, the ANFR has temporarily banned sales of the iPhone 12 and will be sending agents to Apple stores across France to make sure the handset isn't being sold. The ANFR also warns that, if Apple is unable to solve the radiation problem, the company will be told to recall all iPhone 12 handsets sold in the country.
Jean-Noel Barrot, France's junior minister for the digital economy, told daily French newspaper Le Parisien that, "Apple is expected to respond within two weeks ... if they fail to do so, I am prepared to order a recall of all iPhone 12 in circulation. The rule is the same for everyone, including the digital giants."
In response, Apple provided ANFR with "multiple Apple and independent third-party lab results" proving the iPhone 12 is compliant with SAR regulations and standards. It will also contest the ANFR results.
Apple will be keen to resolve this problem quickly as the ANFR has already passed its findings on to other states within the European Union. If those other states agree, Apple could be facing a sales ban and recall of the iPhone 12 across all
Read more on pcmag.com
