Sales of the iPhone 12 in France have been suspended due to concerns about radiation levels.

France has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 for emitting too much electromagnetic radiation.

On Tuesday, the French watchdog which governs radio frequencies also told the tech giant to fix existing phones.

The ANFR has advised Apple that if it cannot resolve the issue via an update, it must recall every iPhone 12 ever sold in the country.

The World Health Organization has previously attempted to alleviate concerns regarding the radiation emitted by mobile phones.

According to their website, there is no proof indicating that humans are at risk from being exposed to low level electromagnetic fields.

The initial launch of the iPhone 12 took place in September 2020, and it continues to be available for purchase globally.

Apple told the BBC it was contesting the ANFR’s review, and said it had provided the regulator with lab results from the tech giant itself and third parties which show the device is compliant with all the relevant rules.

The iPhone 12 was acknowledged as meeting global regulations regarding radiation levels.

According to Reuters, Jean-Noel Barrot, France’s digital minister, informed Le Parisien newspaper that the reason for the decision was the radiation levels exceeding the acceptable limit.

He stated that the ANFR discovered that the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the iPhone 12 exceeded the permissible limit set by law.

He stated that Apple is anticipated to provide a response within a span of two weeks.

“If they do not comply, I am ready to mandate a recall of all iPhones 12 currently in use. The regulation applies universally, encompassing even the prominent tech companies.”

The SAR of the device, as reported by ANFR, exceeds the European Union’s (EU) limit for phones when they are held or placed in a pocket, measuring 5.74 watts per kilogram.

It intends to distribute its discoveries with other regulatory bodies within the trading bloc.

The news was initially reported in France on Tuesday, which coincided with the day Apple introduced its latest iPhone 15.

The announcement was impacted by EU regulations, which mandated Apple to replace its exclusive lightning charging port with a USB-C cable.

Apple has introduced a different charging port in their latest phone, which is the first of its kind since 2012. They have also announced that an adapter will be available for purchase, allowing users to continue using their current cables.