French Watchdog Agency Orders iPhone 12 Recall Due to Electromagnetic Radiation Concerns

PARIS, France – In a recent development, France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has ordered Apple to withdraw its iPhone 12 from the French market, citing concerns over excessive electromagnetic radiation emissions. The agency’s tests revealed that the iPhone 12’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which measures radiofrequency energy absorbed by the human body, surpasses the European Union’s established standards.

According to European regulations, a handheld or pocketed phone should not exceed 4 watts per kilogram of electromagnetic energy absorption. However, ANFR’s testing disclosed that the iPhone 12 exceeded this limit by more than 40%, registering a SAR of 5.74 watts per kilogram. Notably, the phone remained within radiation thresholds when placed in a jacket pocket or bag.

ANFR has taken stringent measures, instructing its sworn officers to ensure that iPhone 12 is no longer available for sale in all distribution channels in France. The agency has even threatened a recall of all iPhone 12 units sold in the country if Apple fails to promptly address the SAR issue.

France’s Digital Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, stated that the agency’s findings would be shared with regulatory bodies across the European Union, potentially leading to a “snowball effect” on the iPhone 12’s status in other member states. Apple is expected to respond to these concerns within the next two weeks.

While these developments may cause concern among iPhone 12 users, it’s important to note that the radiation levels emitted by the device were found to be “slightly above” the allowed threshold. They were more than 10 times lower than the level at which there could be any health risk, according to Minister Barrot’s statement.

The World Health Organization has also weighed in on the issue, stating that no adverse health effects have been conclusively linked to mobile phone use to date. In 2011, the organization classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” but this category is reserved for agents with limited or inadequate evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.

According to the National Cancer Institute, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, research so far suggests that cell phone use does not cause brain or other types of cancer in humans, and the radiofrequencies emitted by these devices are too low to damage DNA.

How to Check Your iPhone’s Radiation Levels: For concerned smartphone users, it’s possible to find information about the SAR of cell phones produced and marketed within the last 1 to 2 years on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) website. This can be done by entering the phone’s FCC ID number, typically located on the phone’s case, in the phone’s settings, or by contacting the manufacturer.

In conclusion, while the iPhone 12’s SAR issue in France has raised eyebrows, experts suggest that the radiation levels emitted by the device pose minimal health risks. Nevertheless, Apple is expected to address these concerns promptly, and regulatory agencies in other European countries may follow suit in scrutinizing the device’s radiation emissions.