The new European Union (EU) directive on universal chargers, which makes USB-C input mandatory for all electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets and headphones, comes into operation on Saturday, harmonizing the rules, regardless of the manufacturer.
“From December 28, 2024 (Saturday), EU consumers will benefit from a universal charging solution for their devices, as new rules come into force for a common charger. Under these rules, all new mobile phones , tablets, digital cameras, headphones and earphones, portable video game consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems and headphones sold in the EU must have a USB charging port -C”, recalls the European Parliament today in a statement.
Two years after the law was approved (by MEPs and Member States), EU consumers will no longer need different chargers and cables for their various small and medium-sized portable electronics.
Cellphones, ‘tablets’, e-readers, headphones, digital cameras, headphones, portable video game consoles and rechargeable wired portable speakers will all need to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of their manufacturer.
Furthermore, after a period of adaptation, all portable computers will be equally covered by the new rules, starting on April 28, 2026.
This EU directive also harmonizes fast charging requirements and allows consumers to choose whether or not they want to receive a new charger with each device purchase.
Manufacturers will be required to update their packaging to clearly present information about charging features and what is included with each purchase.
It is estimated that in 2020, EU consumers purchased approximately 420 million electronic devices, owning, on average, three chargers to charge these electronic devices, of which they regularly used two.
Per year, this means 11 thousand tons of e-waste in the EU as a whole.
The European Commission predicts savings of 250 million euros for consumers in the European Union by introducing this universal charger.
The issue of creating a universal charger had been discussed since 2009, when there were around 30 models on the European market and a voluntary agreement was signed between the main cell phone manufacturers in the EU to harmonize it.
This made it possible to reduce the number of models for the main types of chargers on the European market – USB 2.0 Micro B, USB-C and the Lightning system used exclusively by Apple devices – but the agreement between the industry expired in 2014, being now replaced by the new law regarding the universal charger, which reduces the number of devices from three to one.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
