Brazil fines Apple $19 million for continuing to sell iPhones without chargers

A Brazilian court today imposed a fine of $19 million in “social damages” (100 million reais) against Apple for selling iPhones without chargers, reports Reuters. A state court in Sao Paulo said Apple must offer battery chargers with iPhones sold in the country, ruling in a lawsuit brought by the Brazilian Association of Borrowers, Consumers and Taxpayers (AMBCC).

Apple has announced that it has stopped offering chargers with iPhone purchases to reduce carbon emissions. The company claimed that many customers already have chargers available and continues to sell chargers on a stand-alone basis.

The court presiding over the case did not look favorably on Apple’s environmental explanation. “It is evident that the defendant under the justification of “green initiative” imposes on the consumer the mandatory purchase of charger adapters that were previously delivered with the product,” the decision states.

In addition to the fine, Apple is expected to sell iPhones with chargers and also provide chargers to all Brazilians who purchased their products after October 13, 2020. Brazilian news site Estadão. Apple stopped supplying iPhone chargers when it launched iPhone 12 models in 2020. In most countries, Apple no longer ships iPhones with EarPods or a power adapter, but only offers a USB-C to Lightning cable.

Back in September, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice ordered by Apple to stop selling iPhones without chargers, and also imposed a $2.34 million fine, alleging that Apple was giving customers an incomplete product.

Apple has not complied with that order as it is appealing the ruling, and the company also plans to appeal today’s decision in Sao Paulo.