European lawmakers have taken a step towards a new law that will require manufacturers of phones, tablets and even laptops to provide a USB Type-C (USB-C) charging port.
MEPs in the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection voted 43 to 2 in favor of the European Commission’s September proposal to revise the EU Radio Equipment Directive to require smartphone makers and other small devices to use a common USB -C charging port. The EC released its proposal a year after MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favor of the common charger.
The proposal for a common charger aims to separate the purchase of new devices from the equipment and cables for the charger, saving the environment and consumers from unnecessary purchases. This will contribute to the EU’s e-waste reduction mission through its “right of correction” laws.
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EU lawmakers also want clear labeling of new devices, which states whether a product includes a charger, so that consumers can make different choices when buying if they already have a cable and charger.
The most obviously affected provider of the proposal is Apple, whose iPhone has a Lightning port, while most Android phones already comply with the proposed rules. Apple said the EU’s common rules on chargers would harm consumers worldwide and stifle innovation, but agreed with the EU’s environmental goals.
In addition to telephones, the rules will cover tablets, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, handheld video game consoles and portable speakers if they can be charged from a cable. In the current vote, the rules for USB-C have been extended to include laptops.
MEPs are now also calling on the EC to develop a strategy of “minimum interoperability” between new wireless charging solutions to avoid potential fragmentation and locking up providers. They call on the EC to present a strategy for wireless charging by the end of 2026.
The current vote confirmed that MEPs from the European Council will adopt the negotiating position proposed in January in response to the EC’s proposed amendment to the Radio Equipment Directive. The decision will be presented to all MEPs in plenary next month.
“With half a billion portable chargers shipped to Europe each year, generating 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste, one mobile phone charger and other small and medium-sized electronic devices would benefit everyone,” said rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba.
“This will help the environment, further support the reuse of old electronics, save money and reduce unnecessary costs and inconveniences for both businesses and consumers. We propose a truly comprehensive political intervention, building on the Commission’s proposal, calling for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026 and for improving the information provided to consumers with special labels. We are also expanding the scope of the offer by adding more products, such as laptops, which will have to comply with the new rules. “
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