Apple Inc said on Tuesday it would appeal a Brazilian order that bars it from selling iPhones without a battery charger, rejecting claims the company offers consumers an incomplete product.
The Ministry of Justice fined Apple 12.275 million reais (US$2.38 million) and ordered the company to cancel sales of the iPhone 12 and newer models and suspend the sale of any iPhone model that does not come with a charger.
In the order, published Tuesday in the country’s official gazette, the ministry argued that the iPhone was missing an essential component in a “deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers.”
Authorities rejected Apple’s argument that the practice was aimed at reducing carbon emissions, saying no evidence selling the smartphone without a charger offers environmental protections.
Apple said it would continue to work with the Brazilian consumer protection agency Senacon to “resolve their concerns” while it appealed the 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.
The order comes a day before Apple announces its new iPhone model.
