Indian retailers may face hefty fines for selling Apple products if devices are activated using foreign SIM cards within 90 days of purchase. In this case, stores will be at risk, although specific fine amounts are not specified. This was reported by RBC.
Interestingly, Apple previously rarely warned its distributors about such risks, but now the company has adopted a stricter approach, according to the Indian publication MoneyControl. In the event of violations, stores may have their official license to sell products of the California brand revoked.
According to the publication, about 40% of all electronics exports from India consist of Apple devices, and the share of "gray" exports reaches 5%, with half of this figure related to Russia. The main focus of the restrictions will be on the latest iPhone 17 model, as Apple seeks to prevent its products from reaching countries where it does not operate officially. Previously, the company did not impose direct blocks on its devices, and payment methods in the App Store through Russian operators continued to function.
