Romain Rouillard / Photo credit: AFP PHOTO/ APPLE INC./ BROOKS KRAFT 16:50 p.m., September 13, 2023

The National Frequency Agency (ANFR) decided on Tuesday to ban the sale of the iPhone 12 in France, due to a wave level higher than European standards. But if the authorities play the card of caution, they also want to reassure consumers: this defect does not present health risks.

In an interview with Le Parisien on Tuesday, Jean-Noël Barrot did not hesitate to brandish a threat. That of the recall of the iPhone 12, now banned from sale in France, because of a level of waves emitted higher than European standards. For the time being, the Minister in charge of Digital and Telecommunications, has not gone that far.

It must be said that electromagnetic waves, emitted by this model launched in 2020, do not present real dangers for the consumer. European regulations set the threshold at 4 watts per kilogram, compared to 6 for the iPhone 12. Jean-Noël Barrot, himself, wanted to be reassuring in the columns of the Parisian. "The European standard is ten times lower than the level of emissions which, according to scientific studies, can have consequences for users," he says.

ANFR is asking @Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market as of today, September 12, 2023, following an excess of the SAR limit found on this model. pic.twitter.com/LwftcARBJO

— ANFR (@anfr) September 12, 2023

Apple has 15 days to comply

Therefore, there is no need for iPhone 12 owners to bring their device back to the store. A simple update should be able to correct the defect. Under pressure from the National Frequency Agency (ANFR), Apple has 15 days to "implement all available means to quickly remedy this malfunction". In the immediate future, the American giant said it would contest ANFR's conclusions with the firm intention of proving that its iPhone 12 meets European standards.

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This temporary ban of the iPhone 12 comes at a bad time for the Cupertino firm, because it comes on the same day as the traditional back-to-school "keynote", a major conference where the brand presents its novelties. The American giant also stresses that its model pointed out has been validated and certified for many competent bodies in the field. Nevertheless, "the energy levels transported by the electromagnetic waves in question, can vary depending on software updates," said Jean-Noël Barrot, at the microphone of Franceinfo.