Paris:
French regulators on Tuesday ordered Apple to stop sales of the iPhone 12 because it emits too much electromagnetic radiation and to repair existing handsets. The French agency that regulates radio frequencies, the ANFR, said tests showed the model emits more electromagnetic waves that can be absorbed by the body than allowed.
The ANFR said it “has ordered Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market from September 12 because the model exceeds the limit” for electromagnetic absorption by the body.
It said accredited laboratories had determined the body’s absorption of electromagnetic energy at 5.74 watts per kilogram during tests that simulated when the phone was held in the hand or kept in a pocket.
The European standard for such tests is a specific absorption power of 4.0 watts per kilogram.
“With regard to phones already sold, Apple must take corrective measures as soon as possible to bring the affected phones into compliance,” the ANFR said in a statement on its website.
“Otherwise Apple will have to recall them.”
ANFR noted that tests measuring electromagnetic radiation absorbed at a distance of two inches met the limit of 2.0 watts per kilogram.
ANFR said its agents would verify from Wednesday that iPhone 12 models are no longer offered for sale in France.
When contacted by AFP, Apple disputed the ANFR’s results, saying it had presented multiple independent analyzes showing the devices were compliant, but that the company would nonetheless continue to cooperate with the regulator.
Regulators in a number of countries have placed limits on the amount of electromagnetic radiation that mobile phones can emit to prevent adverse health effects.
The World Health Organization states on its website that after a large number of studies it has been determined that “no adverse health effects have been caused by the use of mobile phones”.
The news from France came on the same day Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15 series, the first with a universal charging port instead of the unique “Lightning” ports after a battle with European regulators.
The EU is pushing for all phones and other small devices to be compatible with USB-C charging cables from the end of next year, a move it says will reduce waste and save money for consumers.
“USB-C has become a universally accepted standard, which is why we’re bringing USB-C to iPhone 15,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of iPhone marketing, at a launch event.
The update comes as the Silicon Valley tech giant faces declining iPhone sales as premium pricing prompts customers to delay switching to newer models.
“Apple had to deliver more than just small updates to get people excited about buying new products,” Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart said in a demo room at the event.
“I think they’ve delivered on that with a lot of updates, some of which are not so minor.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
