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BY: News Peddlers
Apple is not permitted to sell iPhones in Brazil without a charger, according to the country's government.
Additionally, it levied a fine of 12.28 million reais, or roughly $2.4 million, against the American tech giant for what it called "discriminatory practices."
"The immediate suspension of the distribution of iPhone brand smartphones, regardless of model or generation," order from the nation's Department of Consumer Protection and Defense stated.
Brazilian authorities noted that Apple claims that the decision to bar chargers from iPhone sales is a result of a "environmental commitment" in an official statement.
Apple's policy, according to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, "has not resulted in an effective demonstration of environmental protection on Brazilian soil," and the company is being accused of "deliberately discriminatory practices against consumers."
"There is no justification for an operation that, in aiming to reduce carbon emissions, leads to the introduction into the consumer market of a product whose use depends on the purchase of another (product) which is also marketed by the company," the official statement added.
Brazilian state agencies have previously fined Apple, but according to the statement, they "did not take any measures to minimize the harm and until now continued to sell the cellular devices without chargers."
According to the official statement, the company has been under investigation in Brazil since December for "the sale of an incomplete product," "discrimination against the consumer," and "the transfer of responsibility to third parties." These charges stem from the company's sale of iPhone 12s and newer models without chargers for power outlets.