Consumers in the EU will soon be able to use a charger for their electronic devices as a result of new legislation approved by the European Parliament
By the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in EU they should have USB-C charging port. These ports will also become mandatory for laptops in the spring of 2026. The new law was approved by the European Parliament plenary on Tuesday with 602 votes in favor, 13 against and 8 abstentions. It is part of a wider EU effort to reduce e-waste and encourage consumers to make more sustainable choices.
- The single charger for all mobile phones and tablets will mean benefits for the environment and consumers
- The use of USB-C type ports is established for more reliable charging and data transfer
- When buying a new mobile device, buyers will be able to choose whether they want its charger as well
Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger every time they buy a new mobile device, as they will be able to use the same charger for a range of small and medium-sized electronic devices.
No matter who their manufacturer is, type port USB-C all new mobile devices on the list included in the new rules must have: mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones of any kind, video game consoles, speakers, e-book readers, keyboards, mice, navigation systems and computers that charge with cable and operate with a power supply of up to 100 Watts.
All devices that support fast charging will now have the same charging speed, allowing consumers to charge their devices at the same speed using any compatible charger.
Encouraging technological innovation
As wireless charging becomes more widespread, the European Commission should establish the interoperability of the systems by the end of 2024. This will avoid negative consequences for consumers and the environment, such as the so-called technological "catchment" phenomenon, i.e. the creation of relationship of dependence of the consumer on a single company.
Better information and more choice for consumers
Special labels will inform consumers about the charging properties of the new devices, allowing them to check the compatibility of the products with the chargers they already own. Buyers will thus have all the necessary information to decide whether they need to buy a new charger as well.
The new obligations will lead to greater reuse of chargers and help consumers save up to 250 million euros per year from unnecessary purchases. Chargers that are not used or end up in the trash account for approx 11.000 tons of e-waste every year in the EU.
Statements
The rapporteur of the European Parliament Alex Agius Saliba (Socialists, Malta) said:
Next steps
The Council will now have to formally approve the directive. The directive will then be published in the EU Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later. From that date onwards, Member States will have 12 months to incorporate the rules into their national law and then a further 12 months to implement them. The new rules do not apply to products that will be on the market before their date of application.
Relevant information
In the last decade, the European Parliament has requested repeatedly establishing a common charger. Despite previous efforts to work with industry to reduce the number of mobile device chargers, voluntary measures have had no tangible effect for consumers in the EU. The European Commission finally published the its legislative proposal on 23 September 2021.
Press Release
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