Having a common charger will facilitate consumers and significantly reduce e-waste
The Council of Ministers has today given its final approval on the Common Charger Directive. This means that in 2024, a USB-C port will become mandatory for a whole range of electronic devices, including mobile phones, tablets and headphones. It will no longer be necessary to buy a different charger every time someone gets a new mobile phone or similar device: everything will be able to be recharged using the same charger.
Having a common charger will facilitate consumers and significantly reduce e-waste.
– The new rules
The new rules will make the USB-C charging port mandatory for a whole range of electronic devices. This means that most devices will be able to be charged using the same charger. To help consumers know exactly what they are buying, the directive introduces an icon identifying whether a new device comes with a charger and a label indicating charging performance.
The directive also allows consumers to choose whether to buy a new device with or without a charger. This will not only save consumers money, but also reduce e-waste associated with the manufacture, transport and disposal of chargers. Four years after the entry into force of the directive, the Commission will assess whether this unbundling of sales should be made mandatory.
Although it is becoming more popular, wireless charging is not yet harmonized across all devices. To enable this technology to become available for more devices, the Commission will work on the harmonization of wireless charging for electronic devices and interoperability based on technological developments.
– Categories of related devices
The new rules will apply to a wide range of mobile devices:
– mobile phones
– tablets and e-readers
– digital cameras and video game consoles
– headphones and portable speakers
– wireless mice and keyboards
– portable navigation systems
In addition, all laptops will also be covered by the new rules 40 months after the directive comes into force.
– Record
In 2020, EU consumers bought around 420 million electronic devices and, on average, have three chargers to charge these electronic devices – of which they regularly use two. However, 38% of consumers report that they experienced problems charging their devices because a compatible charger was not available. To address these issues, on 23 September 2021 the European Commission presented a proposal for a common charger.
On 26 January 2022, less than six months after the start of negotiations in the Council, Member States unanimously agreed on the Council’s position on the Common Charger Directive.
On 7 June 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the Common Charger Directive, which was approved by the representatives of the EU Member States on 29 June 2022.
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