Brazil Bans Sale Of iPhone Without Charger, Rejects Apple's 'Environmental Commitment' Claim; US Tech Giant To Appeal The Ban

US tech giant Apple will appeal against an order by Brazilian authorities to ban sales of iPhones without a charger in the south American country.

The Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security on Tuesday (6 September) ordered Apple to pay a fine of 12.28 million reais (around $2.4 million).

The ministry also ordered Apple to immediately suspend sales of the iPhone 12 and newer models, in addition to suspending the sale of any iPhone model that does not come with a charger.

In a statement, the ministry argued that the iPhone was lacking a essential component in a "deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers", reports Gadgets Now.

Apple has been under investigation in Brazil since December last year for “the sale of an incomplete product,” “discrimination against the consumer” and “the transfer of responsibility to third parties” by offering iPhone 12s and newer versions without chargers for power outlets, an official statement said, reports Taipei Times.

The company has faced fines from Brazilian state agencies before, but “did not take any measures to minimize the harm and until now continued to sell the cellular devices without chargers,” the statement said.

Brazilian authorities said that Apple alleges that the decision to exclude chargers from iPhone sales comes from an “environmental commitment.”

However, the ministry rejected Apple's argument, saying that "there is no effective demonstration of environmental protection on Brazilian soil as a consequence” of Apple’s policy.

“There is no justification for an operation which, in aiming to reduce carbon emissions, leads to the introduction into the consumer market of a product whose use depends on the acquisition of another [product] which is also marketed by the company,” the official notice was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying.

Meanwhile, Apple has issued a statement in response to the ban and the fine, saying that it would continue working with Brazil’s consumer protection agency to “address their concerns and plan to appeal this decision".

"We have already won several court rulings in Brazil on this matter and we are confident that our customers are aware of the various options for charging and connecting their devices," Apple said in the statement.