On September 12, 2023, the French government announced a ban on the sale of the iPhone 12. This was because the model’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) — the rate at which electromagnetic radiation is absorbed by the human body — exceeded the French government-defined threshold. On September 26, Apple sent an update to the French government for validation.
On October 24, the validated update was released and the ban was lifted. Apple has committed to extend the software patch to all French iPhone 12 users. You can continue to use your iPhone 12 safely and without risk.
The French government stressed that the SAR threshold "has been set as a precautionary principle". It pointed out that the iPhone 12 was "very slightly above the threshold" and added that "the threshold set at European level is set at a level ten times lower than that at which scientific studies estimate there may be consequences for users."
With the release of the update, the iPhone 12 complies with the Specific Absorption Rate’s (SAR) regulatory limit.
How do I know if I’m affected?
This temporary ban only applied to the iPhone 12 model — not the iPhone 12 Mini, Pro, or Pro Max.
You can double-check your exact model by logging in to your Back Market account > “My orders”. Or, find the model name directly on your phone by going to “Settings” > “General” > “About” and looking for "Model Name".
I have an iPhone 12 — what are my options?
There wasn’t a product recall and you were able to keep using your iPhone 12 during the temporary ban. Sellers have not been accepting iPhone 12 returns outside of the 30-day withdrawal period on the basis of this temporary issue.
The French government requested that the manufacturer implement a rapid solution, which was done on October 24 with the release of an update validated by the government. Your iPhone 12 now complies with the French and European regulations.