Apple must stop selling the iPhone 12 in France as the radiation level exceeds the prescribed ceiling, stated Secretary of State for Digital Economy Jean-Noel Barrot in an interview with Le Parisien.
The French regulator ANFR informed Apple that it decided to ban the sale of the iPhone 12 after tests showed that its specific absorption rate (SAR) is slightly above the legally prescribed ceiling, Barrot noted in an interview with the Parisian newspaper published on Tuesday.
Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on this information.
To resolve the issue, it is sufficient to update the software, added the French official.
– Apple is expected to respond within two weeks, and if they do not, I am ready to order the withdrawal of all iPhone 12 units in circulation. The rule is the same for everyone, including digital giants – emphasized Barrot.
The European Union has set a ceiling for SAR, related to exposure to mobile phones that could increase the risk of certain forms of cancer, according to scientific research.
The French ANFR will forward the test results to regulators in other EU member states.
– In practical terms, the decision could have a snowball effect – said Barrot.
In 2020, France supplemented regulations requiring retailers to display the radiation level of products on mobile phones, tablets, and other electronic devices, Reuters recalls.
