France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation concerns

Apple has been ordered to stop selling its iPhone 12 model in France due to above-threshold radiation levels, according to France’s junior minister for the digital economy, Jean-Noel Barrot. The decision was made by France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR), which tested 141 phones for their Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), a measure of how much electromagnetic waves are absorbed by the human body. The iPhone 12 was found to emit more than the permitted electromagnetic waves when the phone was placed in a pocket, exceeding the EU standard of 4.0 watts per kilogram (W/kg). The phone was within the limit when placed 5 mm from the body, where the limit is 2.0 W/kg.

Barrot told Le Parisien that Apple must implement “all available means” to resolve this issue quickly or it will be ordered to recall all units sold in the European country. He said that a software update would be sufficient to fix the radiation problem and that Apple is expected to do so within two weeks. “The rule is the same for everyone, including the digital giants,” he said.

France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation concerns
France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation concerns

SAR values and health risks

SAR values indicate how much radiofrequency energy is absorbed by the body when using a mobile phone. The EU has set safety limits for SAR values to protect users from the potential health risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields, such as increased risk of some forms of cancer, according to some scientific studies. However, there is no conclusive evidence that mobile phones cause any adverse health effects, and different countries have different standards and methods for measuring SAR values.

France is one of the countries that has stricter regulations on SAR values than others. In 2020, it widened the rules requiring retailers to display the SAR value of products on packaging beyond cell phones, including tablets and other electronic devices. It also conducts regular tests on mobile phones and publishes the results on its website.

Possible impact on Apple and other markets

The ban on iPhone 12 sales in France could have a significant impact on Apple, as France is one of its key markets in Europe. According to Statista, Apple had a market share of 21% in France in the second quarter of 2023, behind Samsung with 36%. The iPhone 12 was launched in September 2020 and was one of the best-selling models in the world, with over 100 million units shipped by June 2021.

Barrot said that the data acquired by ANFR will be sent to regulators in other EU member states, which could lead to similar actions against Apple in other countries. “In practical terms, this decision could have a snowball effect on Apple for the iPhone 12,” he said. However, he also noted that the iPhone 12 is now discontinued as the iPhone 15 arrived, meaning that such a move is unlikely to affect Apple’s sales in a significant way.

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