France is temporarily recalling the iPhone 12 – with consequences for Switzerland

Radiation levels too high
France is temporarily recalling the iPhone 12 – with consequences for Switzerland
by John Mettler, tagesanzeiger.ch, 28 September 2023 - auto-translation

 

In the worst case scenario, manufacturer Apple is threatened with a definitive ban on this smartphone model. Since there is an agreement with the EU, Switzerland would have to support such a measure.

(Photo): Tourists take a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower: In France there is a regulatory authority that controls the radiation emitted by smartphones. Photo: Philippe Lopez (AFP)

This time Apple got it: According to a test by the Agence Nationale des Fréquences (ANFR) in France, the iPhone 12 emits too much radiation. The supervisory authority has now called on the US technology group to “use all available means to quickly remedy this situation”.

Until that happens, Apple is no longer allowed to sell the model in question in France. An update to the operating system that reduces radiation can help. If Apple does not submit suggestions to the authority within 15 days to solve the problem, it will face a severe penalty:  ANFR can order that the manufacturer must permanently withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market.

Since 2017, the French State has wanted to know exactly how high the radiation levels from smartphones are. It most recently published last year's test results online at the end of September.  ANFR currently lists 51 models that the government classifies as “non-compliant”. In addition to Apple's iPhone 12, this includes products from Samsung, Xiaomi and Motorola.

[These cell phones violate French radiation standards - article lists 51 models]

The matter is occupying Swiss federal politics in an election year. The Zurich Green Party National Councilor Mariona Schlatter wanted to know from the Federal Council in the question and answer session on September 24th: “With such clear evidence from abroad, does no federal agency check compliance with the SAR values?” The abbreviation SAR stands for “specific absorption rate” and is a measure of how the human body absorbs electromagnetic fields.

Schlatter had already submitted a parliamentary proposal in June in which she wanted to know from the government who in Switzerland was actually responsible for controlling radiation standards for cell phones.

Parliament has dealt with the issue before: in 2019, the SP National Councilors Silvia Semadeni and Martina Munz demanded clarity about the initial situation in Switzerland in two interpellations.

The trigger was the “Phonegate” scandal in France, which led to regular smartphone tests by ANFR. In 2018 it became known that smartphone manufacturers in France had systematically reported the radiation levels of their products as being too low.

There is a lack of supervision in Switzerland

The initial situation in Switzerland is as follows: There is no legal basis for a supervisory authority similar to ANFR in France. Accordingly, there is no regulator responsible for products that emit radiation. Such products include not only smartphones, but also ultraviolet light lamps and cosmetic lasers for home use.

In Switzerland, the manufacturers of such devices are responsible for ensuring the security of their devices. But importers also have to check whether imported products meet the standards.

However, an interdepartmental working group led by the Interior Department is examining the extent to which a new regulatory authority for radiation from devices is needed. There are no concrete results. “The Federal Department of the Interior will submit the results of the review of current responsibilities to the Federal Council and suggest any necessary adjustments to existing legal regulations,” says the Federal Office of Communications, which is represented in the working group.

A ban on the sale of the iPhone 12 in France could also have consequences for Switzerland. There is an agreement between Switzerland and the European Union on the mutual recognition of conformity assessments. If France ordered a recall of the Apple product, this measure would also apply in Switzerland.

The Federal Office of Public Health writes in a fact sheet about the dangers of cell phone radiation: "There are still uncertainties regarding the health effects of long-term exposure to high-frequency radiation from cell phones; no short-term negative health effects are to be expected."

To avoid unnecessary radiation exposure to the head, the federal agency recommends using headphones and a wireless hands-free device with a weak Bluetooth transmitter when making phone calls.

This is how the tests work in France

When conducting the tests, the French authorities adhere to the limit values ​​set by the European Union. What is measured is the so-called specific absorption rate, which is given in watts per kilogram. If the smartphone is held to the ear, a maximum limit of 2 watts per kilogram is permitted in France. The same requirement also applies to Switzerland - but this is not checked in this country.

The French also measure the radiation when the device is in a trouser pocket. Here the limit is also 2 watts per kilogram. If the user carries the cell phone in one hand at hip height, 4 watts per kilogram must not be exceeded.

Opponents of mobile communications criticize the hesitant attitude of the Federal Council and administration. “The Federal Council declares that the federal enforcement authorities can publish information about dangers if the manufacturer itself has not taken appropriate measures or has taken them too late,” says Chantal Blanc, President of the Stop 5G Glâne association. It is incomprehensible that this is not yet happening.

Jon Mettler has been a business editor at Tamedia's central editorial team since 2018. He reports on telecommunications, digitalization, tourism and the watch industry. More info

Original article in German:
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zu-hohe-strahlungswerte-frankreich-ruft-iphone-12-vorlaeufig-zurueck-mit-folgen-fuer-die-schweiz-411949460865