E.U. requires replaceable batteries in smartphones by 2027

Share post:

The European Union has officially announced that all smartphones sold in the bloc must have replaceable batteries by 2027. The regulation which was adopted by the European Council is designed to reduce waste and make it easier for consumers to repair their devices.

The regulation applies to all smartphones, including those made by Apple, Samsung, and Google. It requires that batteries be “removable and replaceable by the end-user,” meaning that they should be easy to access and replace without any special tools or expertise. Manufacturers will have until 2027 to comply with the new regulation.

In addition to requiring replaceable batteries, the new regulation also sets targets for the collection and recycling of lithium from waste batteries. By 2027, manufacturers must collect 50 percent of lithium from waste batteries, and by 2031, that number must increase to 80 percent. Manufacturers will also be required to label batteries with their internal components, amount of recycled material, and a QR code.

The E.U.’s decision is a victory for the right-to-repair movement, which has been campaigning for years for easier access to repair parts and documentation. The regulation is also expected to have a significant impact on the global smartphone market, as it is unlikely that manufacturers will produce two different versions of their phones – one for the E.U. and one for the rest of the world.

The sources for this piece include an article in Mashable.

Featured Tech Jobs

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Related articles

Spotify calls for faster regulatory action on Apple’s App Store practices

Spotify has called on governments around the world to move faster to crack down on Apple's App Store...

Tech giants, civil society groups clash over AI forum

A closed-door forum on artificial intelligence (AI) organized by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing criticism from...

U.K. government reiterates stand on Online Safety Bill,

The U.K. government has reaffirmed its position on the Online Safety Bill, stating that it would not allow...

New York City cracks down on Airbnb

New York City has cracked down on Airbnb, the home-sharing platform, by imposing new regulations that effectively ban...

Become a member

New, Relevant Tech Stories. Our article selection is done by industry professionals. Our writers summarize them to give you the key takeaways