Immediately following the iPhone 15 launch event, France’s radiation watchdog ordered Appla to stop selling iPhone 12 models in the country due to radiation levels exceeding the threshold.
The French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) informed Apple that it has banned the sale of iPhone 12 models in the country. The decision was taken following a series of tests by ANFR, which found that the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the smartphone exceeded the legally permissible limit. Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s junior minister responsible for the digital economy, shared this information in an interview published in Le Parisien newspaper.
The European Union (EU) has a limit on the amount of radiation that mobile phones can emit, called the SAR value. The French authority will also share its findings with regulators in other EU member states, which could lead to a broader ban of the iPhone 12.
As reported by Reuters, Barrot said in an interview with the French newspaper that a software update should be enough to fix the radiation issue on the iPhone 12, adding that Apple is expected to respond within two weeks and if they don’t it will mean that all iPhone 12 models currently in circulation will be disabled. He added that it could result in a recall.
In its response to Reuters on Wednesday, Apple stated that the iPhone 12 model has received certification from multiple international organizations and confirmed its compliance with global radiation standards. Apple also stated that they have shared with ANFR various test results from both their own laboratories and independent third-party laboratories, all of which confirm compliance with SAR regulations and global standards.
The Cupertino company expressed disagreement with ANFR’s conclusions and conveyed its intention to work closely with the agency to demonstrate continued compliance.
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