On September 12th, 2023, Apple released its highly anticipated iPhone 15 lineup to a majority of its users around the world. However, the same day the French radiation watchdog (ANFR) revealed that its predecessor – the flagship iPhone 12- was in breach of their radiation standards.

In response, the agency instructed Apple to cease all sales of the iPhone 12 on French soil until a software update was released to address the issue, which Apple has now confirmed will be done.

An Apple spokesperson spoke with Reuters about the challenge and issued a statement affirming that they are determined to find a remedy for the French protocol issue – one that will still allow them to sell their device in France. “We look forward to iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France. This is related to a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and not a safety concern.” They concluded.

The National Frequency Agency of France (ANFR) recently released an alarming announcement: in their safety tests on cellphones sold in France, ANFR discovered that the iPhone 12 exceeded radiation-absorption limits. SAR testing revealed that the iPhone 12 absorbed 5.74 W/kg – an astonishing rate, far higher than the limit of 4W/kg imposed by ANFR.

If Apple had failed to address this concerning discrepancy, the French market could have been faced with a massive iPhone 12 recall. Fortunately, Apple was able to provide reassurance that it was enacting measures to comply with French radiation-absorption regulations.