Consumer protection authorities in the Brazilian state of Alagoas have fined Apple R$101,627.50, roughly $20,000, for selling iPhones without a power adapter in the box. Regulators say the charger is an essential item for the regular use of the product, and they argue that removing it places an unfair burden on buyers who must purchase the accessory separately.
The penalty adds to Apple’s ongoing legal troubles in Brazil over its decision to stop including chargers with new iPhones. Local officials maintain that the company’s environmental justification does not override consumer rights under Brazilian law.
According to a report by Alagoas 24 Horas, the state’s consumer protection agency Procon-AL concluded that Apple violated Brazil’s Consumer Defense Code by failing to include what it considers an indispensable component.
Regulator’s Position
Procon-AL stated:
“In our assessment, we found that by shifting to the consumer the burden of having to purchase, separately, an item that is indispensable for the proper use of the product, the company violates the principles of objective good faith, transparency, and consumer vulnerability.”
The agency first set the fine at around $12,000, but later increased it to roughly $20,000. Officials cited aggravating factors under Brazilian regulations and what they described as Apple’s lack of effort to resolve the complaint. The reference to “objective good faith” and “consumer vulnerability” highlights how regulators view the charger as more than an optional accessory.
Ongoing Dispute in Brazil
This is not the first time Brazilian authorities have acted against Apple over the issue. In 2022, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice ordered the suspension of iPhone sales in the country due to the absence of chargers in the box. A year earlier, Apple faced a fine of about $2 million for the same practice.
Under the latest ruling, Apple’s Brazilian subsidiary now has 20 days to appeal. If officials deny the appeal, they will adjust the fine based on Brazil’s IPCA-E inflation index.
