The National Frequency Agency (ANFR) is asking Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market as of 12 September 2023, following an exceeding of the specific absorption rate (SAR) limit observed on this model.
The ANFR urges Apple to implement all available means to quickly remedy this malfunction. Failing this, it will be up to Apple to recall all copies already sold.
As part of its missions to monitor the radio equipment market and control public exposure to electromagnetic waves, the ANFR carries out checks on mobile phones placed on the French market. The ANFR recently monitored the specific absorption rates (SAR) of 141 phones including the Apple iPhone 12. SAR makes it possible to quantify the energy transported by electromagnetic waves and absorbed by the human body.
These phones are then subject to control measures by accredited laboratories, which allow the ANFR to ensure that the SAR values ??comply with European regulations.
These requirements imply that devices are assessed at body contact for “limb” SAR – i.e. a phone held in the hand or in a trouser pocket – and at a distance of 5 mm for “limb” SAR trunk” – that is, a phone carried in a jacket pocket or bag. They must therefore respect the regulatory limit values ??of 4 W/kg for the “limb” SAR and 2 W/kg for the “trunk” SAR. ANFR measurements revealed a “member” SAR value exceeding this limit, i.e. 5.74 W/kg. On the other hand, the “trunk” SAR values ??are consistent.
Therefore, the ANFR concludes that Apple must immediately take all measures to prevent the affected phones present in the supply chain from being made available on the market. For phones already sold, Apple must take corrective action as soon as possible to bring the affected phones into compliance. Otherwise, it will be up to Apple to recall them.
The corrective update of these phones will be controlled by the ANFR.
ANFR sworn agents have been instructed to verify from Tuesday 12 September that these models will no longer be offered for sale in all distribution channels available in France.
