Several European nations say they will investigate claims that the iPhone 12 emits an excessive amount of electromagnetic radiation after France ordered Apple to halt their sales.
Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands are currently investigating the issue.
The French government has given the tech giant two weeks to reply to its probe, which the German government says may result in actions taken across Europe.
Apple said it had provided evidence that it complied with radiation rules and the company stood by its statement.
Tuesday, France's National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) reported that radiation measurements on the iPhone 12 exceeded permissible limits.
The halt in French transactions “could have a snowball effect," French minister of the digital economy Jean-Nol Barrot told Le Parisien. The ANFR will now share its findings with other EU member states' regulatory bodies.
The Belgian government has ordered its regulator to investigate whether the iPhone 12's release in 2020 poses any health hazards. "It is my duty to ensure that all citizens of the kingdom are secure and protected from any potential threats.
According to Belgian state secretary for digitalisation Mathieu Michel, health is an issue that must never be neglected.
He told Le Soir he had asked the regulator to examine all Apple models, followed by other manufacturers. Based on the French testing, the Dutch agency for digital infrastructure (RDI) stated there was no doubt that radiation levels had been exceeded.
The RDI stated that it would contact Apple, but that there was "no imminent safety concern."
According to the German network agency BNetzA, the French investigation could result in measures applicable to all EU member states. The United Kingdom has not announced any response to the French ban.
Apple stated that it was contesting the French findings and that it had provided the ANFR with lab results from Apple and third parties indicating that the device complied with regulations.
France's minister of digital economy anticipated that Apple would be able to resolve the issue with a software update. If this approach fails, Apple would have to recall every iPhone 12 sold in France, according to the ANFR.
The regulator examines two radiation tests: the first measures a phone in close proximity to a person's body, such as when it is held or placed in a trouser pocket. The second simulates a phone in a garment pocket or a bag at a slightly greater distance.
According to the ANFR, the iPhone 12 passed the second test but exceeded the first test's requirements. The watchdog said it would verify that Apple stores and other distributors had ceased distributing the product.
Smartphones have previously been removed from stores in France due to radiation tests, but this is the first time an iPhone has been impacted.
According to the World Health Organization, numerous studies have been conducted over the years to assess potential health hazards posed by mobile phones. "To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being induced by mobile phone use," it says on its website.
