2023-09-14 18:31:03
Paris (awp/afp) – Announced Tuesday in the middle of an international Apple event, the non-compliance of the iPhone 12 with European health standards concerning the level of wave emission worried users and took short the resellers. Having been informed for months, the Californian giant now has fifteen days to react.
What’s wrong with the iPhone 12?
Marketed since the end of 2020, the iPhone 12 was at the end of its career when the decision to withdraw from the French market was made.
For months, the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) had been discussing with Apple following having flashed the device above the standards in force concerning the emission of radio waves.
Concretely, the iPhone 12 exceeds by 1.74 W per kilogram (W/kg) the regulatory limit value corresponding to the energy that can be absorbed by the human body when the phone is held in the hand (called SAR members).
In many similar cases, manufacturers update their device before reaching retirement. This was not the case for Apple, faced with this procedure for the first time.
Why is this decision coming now?
Many users, who had sometimes been using their phone for almost three years, were surprised by such a late decision.
But the regulations which impose the measurement of the “member SAR” only came into force in July 2020, and the phone might not be subject to it before its release.
According to the ANFR website, the conformity of three Apple devices (iPhone 12 5G, iPhone 12 mini 5G and iPhone 13) is currently being examined. The iPhones 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max have been declared compliant.
By communicating regarding this decision, the minister responsible for ANFR Jean-Noël Barrot also wanted to put pressure on Apple, which is required to comply with European rules.
What can Apple do to fix it?
According to the ANFR, which clarified its instructions on Thursday, Apple must “within fifteen days” propose “corrective measures”. Concretely, it should be a “remote software update” which will allow the SAR values to be lowered, indicates the authority.
The ANFR will then request a new laboratory assessment of the telephone, once more “within fifteen days”.
The results of this new test will determine whether the temporary withdrawal decision can be lifted, or whether Apple must “recall all devices sold on the French market”.
What was Apple’s reaction?
Contacted by AFP, Apple assured that the iPhone 12 complied with the standards defined worldwide by numerous international organizations and plans to contest the agency’s conclusions.
However, the company only gives on its site measurements carried out on the DAS “Head” (a measurement carried out during a telephone call without a hands-free kit), and “Body” (a more general measurement at the level of the trunk ).
Is there a health risk?
Exceeding the measurement is probably harmless. Moreover, “the non-compliance detected did not justify an immediate recall”, indicates the ANFR.
Jean-Noël Barrot recalled that this was a “slight” exceedance of the thresholds, which are also set at a level much lower than that which might potentially cause effects on the human body.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “there is currently no evidence that exposure to low-intensity electromagnetic fields is dangerous to human health.” Despite numerous studies on the subject, there is in fact little proven link between health problems and exposure to radiofrequencies.
Is the reconditioned market affected?
According to the ANFR, Apple has the responsibility first of all to put an end to the marketing of the iPhone 12, “regardless of the distribution channel”, and must therefore “give very clear instructions (…) to its distributors”.
But they are also required to remove it themselves from their physical or online stores. The instruction also applies to reconditioners, the agency specifies.
The specialized French platform Backmarket confirmed on Wednesday evening that it had taken steps to withdraw the iPhone 12, which now appears “out of stock”.
The iPhone 12 currently constitutes one of the best references on the refurbished market, which allows consumers to reduce their equipment bill and their environmental footprint.
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