An Apple iPhone 12 is photographed in a mobile phone store in Nantes, France on September 13, 2023. Reuters/Stephen Mahe/File Photo Get licensing rights
- Belgian regulator to assess iPhone 12 after French ban
- Apple says iPhone 12 conforms to global radiation rules
- German regulator says France can be guide for Europe
- Italy says the situation is being monitored, no action is being taken at this time
PARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Belgium said on Thursday it would review Potential health risks associated with Apple’s iPhone 12 raise the possibility that more European countries could ban the model after France ordered it to halt sales due to violations of radiation exposure limits.
Apple disputed the French findings, saying that the iPhone 12 – now a relatively older model launched in 2020 – had been certified as compliant with radiation standards by several international bodies.
Researchers have conducted a large number of studies over the past two decades to assess the health risks of mobile phones. According to the World Health Organization, no adverse health effects have been established from their use.
But Paris’ move to halt iPhone 12 sales until Apple fixes radiation issues found in two tests raises the possibility of further bans in Europe — though others like Italy said they may yet Will not take any action.
“It is my duty to ensure that all citizens… are safe,” Belgium’s Secretary of State for Digitization Mathieu Michel said in a statement emailed to Reuters.
“I quickly reached out to the IBPT-BIPT (regulator) for an analysis regarding the potential risk of the product,” Mitchell said. review All Apple smartphones, as well as devices made by other manufacturers, at a later stage.
Germany’s network regulator BNetzA reiterated that the work in France could serve as a guide for the whole of Europe and that it would examine the issue for the German market to see if the process in France has progressed far enough.
The Dutch digital watchdog also said it was looking into the matter and would seek clarification from the US firm, while stressing that “there is no serious security risk”.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Industry Ministry said it is monitoring the situation but is not taking any action at this time.
Supervision
Britain, where the iPhone 12 met radiation safety standards when it was released, has not announced any plans in the wake of France’s decision.
In Spain, consumers’ organization OCU urged authorities to follow France’s move and halt sales of the iPhone 12.
Industry experts said there was no safety risk because regulatory limits based on the risk of burns or heatstroke from phone radiation were set well below levels where scientists have found evidence of harm.
Apple does not break down its sales by country or model.
The company launched the iPhone 15 on Tuesday and the three-year-old iPhone 12 is not available to buy online from Apple in France and other European countries. However, it can be purchased from third parties, including Amazon France.
DA Davidson analyst Tom Forte said, “Limiting iPhone 12 sales, in itself, shouldn’t be that impactful for the iPhone. We would be more concerned if new models were involved.” As are possible restrictions on the use of iPhones in China and new data regulations in Europe.
Apple’s revenue in Europe last year was nearly $95 billion, making the region its second-largest after the US. By some estimates more than 50 million iPhones were sold in Europe last year.
Additional reporting by Riham Alkousa and Hakan Ersen in Berlin, Giuseppe Fonte in Rome, Silvia Alosi in Milan; Written by Tassilo Hummel and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Mark Potter
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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