The Brazilian Ministry of Justice has fined Apple $2.3 million and announced that it is halting sales of the iPhone 13 until the company includes a charger again in the box delivered to customers upon purchase.
Apple stopped including a charger or EarPods in iPhone boxes, starting with the iPhone 12 in October 2020. The company claims it made the move because it was good for the environment. This change was made so that Apple could achieve its goal of being neutral carbon by 2030.
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However, many users did not see this move in a positive light. In fact, governments in some countries had the same reaction. Brazil has been against the idea of removing the charger from the box of a new iPhone from the beginning , and the iPhone 13 is no exception.
“Implementation of a fine of R$12,274,500, revocation of registration of smartphones introduced on the market from the iPhone 12 model onwards and immediate suspension of the supply of all iPhone brand smartphones, regardless of model or generation, if they are not accompanied by the battery,” the country's announcement states.
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The Department also stated that excluding the charger is a “deliberate practice that discriminates against consumers” and that the iPhone lacks an “essential” element.
The Brazilian Justice Ministry will not immediately implement the fine. It will proceed with its imposition if it suspects that Apple tried to circumvent the sales ban and if the new iPhone 14 also comes without a charger.
Brazil imposed a similar fine on Apple in 2021. That fine (R$10,546,442, or about $1.9 million) came from consumer protection regulator Procon-SP, along with charges of false advertising. The agency alleged that Apple sold devices with factory defects and failed to repair devices covered by warranty. Apple failed to convince the regulator of its argument that not including a charger in the iPhone box was better for the environment and that most consumers already had a charger.
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Apple forced to include chargers with iPhone 12 packages sold in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Regarding the new sales ban, Apple said it would continue to work with Brazilian protection Senacon to "resolve their concerns," and said it would appeal the decision.
"We have already won several court decisions in Brazil on this issue and are confident that our customers are aware of the various options for charging their devices," Apple said.
Source: appleinsider.com
