LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Apple has reportedly denied claims by the French regulator ANFR that the iPhone 12 breaches European exposure limits for radiofrequency energy.
ANFR said on Tuesday that it had ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 in France after tests showed that its Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was higher than legally allowed.
SAR is a measure of the rate of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body from a piece of equipment.
Apple said in a statement that it had provided ANFR with multiple Apple and independent third-party lab results proving its compliance with all applicable SAR regulations and standards in the world.
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“We believe the iPhone 12 meets all applicable safety requirements,” Apple said. “We are contesting the results of AFNR’s review and will continue to engage with the agency to show it is compliant.”
ANFR said that accredited labs had found absorption of electromagnetic energy by the body at 5.74 watts per kilogram during tests simulating when the phone was being held in the hand or kept in a trouser pocket.
The European standard is a specific absorption rate of 4.0 watts per kilogram.
ANFR added that the tests showed the phone complied with so-called body-SAR standards when it was in a jacket pocket or bag.
The dispute between Apple and ANFR is the latest in a series of conflicts between the tech giant and regulators around the world.
In recent years, Apple has been fined billions of dollars by regulators in the United States, Europe, and China for antitrust violations, privacy lapses, and other misdeeds.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will be able to convince ANFR that the iPhone 12 is safe to sell in France. If not, the company could face a recall of the phone in the country.
In the meantime, Apple customers in France who are concerned about the phone’s radiation levels can choose to keep their phones in a jacket pocket or bag, where the SAR levels are lower.
