September 13, 2023 – 07:35
Apple should stop selling its iPhone 12 model in France due to radiation levels above the threshold, French Deputy Minister of the Digital Economy Jean-Noel Barrot said in an interview with French daily Le Parisien.
French radio frequency watchdog ANFR informed Apple of its decision to ban sales of the iPhone 12 after its tests revealed that the model’s specific absorption rate (SAR) was slightly higher than legally permitted. Reuters reports.
According to Parrott, a software update will be enough to solve the problem.
iPhone 12 models have been sold in the country since 2020. The deputy minister told the newspaper that Apple has two weeks to respond to the supervisory body’s decision and correct the defects it complained about. If this is missed, the ministry will recall all iPhone 12 phones in circulation.
The French supervisory authority is sending its findings to regulatory authorities in other EU member states – so it is also possible that a similar decision will soon be made in other EU member states.
The European Union has set safety limits for SAR values associated with exposure to mobile phones because, according to research, they can increase the risk of cancer.
Jean-Noel Barrot announced the decision on the same day that Apple held its usual important event. We also broadcast the event on Telex, and here you can read what you can expect from the tech company this year.
