Apple’s latest model, the iPhone 12, has been banned in France for allegedly exceeding the European Union’s radiation exposure limits. The French radiation watchdog, ANFR, said on Tuesday that the phone’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) was 5.74 watts per kilogram, while the EU standard is 4.0 watts per kilogram.
SAR measures the rate of radiofrequency energy absorption by the body, which can increase the risk of some forms of cancer.
Apple denied the allegations and said the iPhone 12 was certified by several international bodies before its launch. The company also unveiled its new iPhone 15 on Wednesday, which features a USB C charging port and machine learning capabilities. The EU had ordered Apple to switch to a common charger to reduce e-waste and save consumers money.
The French watchdog said it would inform other EU regulators about its findings and warned of a potential ‘snowball effect’. It also said it would recall the already sold iPhone 12s if Apple failed to comply with the EU exposure regulations.