Apple to stop Mac Pro sales in much of Europe on March 1
A new safety and electrical regulation is forcing the Mac maker to stop sales of the desktop computer in EU states and other countries.
Apple today told retailers and distributors in most European countries that it will stop selling the Mac Pro on March 1 because the desktop system doesn't meet electrical regulations.
The Mac Pro's ports and fans don't comply with a new amendment -- which goes into effect at the beginning of March -- addressing safety and electrical standards for electronics, according to Macworld.
An Apple spokesman confirmed the decision to CNET. The regulation affects the 27 countries of the European Union, which includes the U.K., Germany and France, and the four countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Although Apple itself will stop its sales of the Mac Pro, Apple resellers will be able to sell any remaining inventory after March 1.
This is the only Apple product affected by the regulation. It's not surprising, given that the company has not upgraded the Mac Pro in more than two years. In 2011, reports claimed Apple was planning to update the computer, but that refresh never came.
The lull had Mac Pro fans petitioning for a change in the spring of last year. In June, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that any substantial updates to the Mac Pro line would not happen until "later next year" -- meaning sometime in 2013. He didn't provide specifics, but reportedly promised that Apple was "working on something really great."
Staff Writer Josh Lowensohn contributed to this report.