The sale of iPhone 12 has been halted in France because it emits too much electromagnetic radiation.
The French regulatory body that oversees radio frequencies on Tuesday notified the tech giant to repair current phones.
Apple has been notified by the ANFR that it must recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the nation if the problem cannot be fixed with a software update.
However, the World Health Organization has previously worked to allay concerns about the radiation that mobile phones emit.
On its website, the organization claims that there is insufficient evidence to draw the conclusion that low-level electromagnetic field exposure is harmful to people.
In September 2020, the iPhone 12 made its debut; today, it is still available for purchase all over the world.
Asserting that the device complies with all applicable regulations, Apple told the media that it was contesting the ANFR’s review and had given the regulator lab results from both the tech giant and outside sources.
It said the iPhone 12 was acknowledged as being in compliance with radiation level rules applied globally.
According to Reuters, the decision was made because radiation levels were above the acceptable limit, as French Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told French newspaper Le Parisien.
The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the iPhone 12 was, according to him, found to be higher than permitted by law.
He said, “Apple is expected to respond within two weeks “.
“If they fail to do so, I am prepared to order a recall of all iPhones 12 in circulation. The rule is the same for everyone, including the digital giants.”
A “snowball effect” could occur as a result of France sharing its findings with regulators throughout the trading bloc, according to Barrot.
The SAR of devices must be compared to two distinct ways that a phone is used in accordance with the ANFR.
First there is a “membre” – or limb – check, for when a phone is in close contact with a person’s body, such as when it is held or placed in a trouser pocket. The SAR limit for this is four watts per kilogram.
The device’s “membre” SAR, according to the regulator, was 5.74 watts per kilogram, which was above the permitted level.
Additionally, there is a check for when a phone is slightly farther away, such as when it is in a bag or jacket pocket, but the SAR measurement for the iPhone 12 was below this cutoff.
The news first surfaced in France on Tuesday, the same day that Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15.
The new phone is the first since 2012 to feature a different charging port. Apple says it will sell an adapter so people can use their existing cables.
The news comes as the Chinese foreign ministry denied media reports that stated government organizations had ordered employees to stop using iPhones.
It said no laws, rules, or policies prohibiting the use of Apple products have been issued in China.
Source-BBC
