Adoption of world’s first single charger rule

October 5, 2022

The European Parliament has approved the new rule to introduce single charging port for electronic gadgets by 2024 in the EU.

Key facts

The new EU law states that all new smartphones, tablets and camera will have a single standard charger.
The new rules allow customers to choose between two chargers – one with and one without USB-C chargers while purchasing a handheld device.
Under the first phase of the law, which will be implemented from late 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port.
From 2026, the rules will be expanded to include laptops.
It is expected to impact smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, since these rules will force changes in the charging port of iPhones and other devices for the users in the EU.
The USB Type-C ports can charge up to 100 Watts, transfer data up to 40 GB per second and linked to external displays.
In the next 2 years, the new EU law will affect all handheld mobile phones, handheld videogame consoles, headphones, headsets, tablets, digital cameras, portal speakers, e-readers, earbuds, mice, keyboards and portable navigation systems.
The new law aims to minimise e-waste and empower customers to make more sustainable choices.
It will also simplify the life of Europeans, bring down costs and reduce the number of chargers in the market.
It can save at least 200 million euros each year and significantly bring down electronic waste every year.
Currently, about 11 000 tonnes of e-waste is generated by disposed or unused charges in the European Union each year.
It will also put an end to the technological “lock-in” effect, which involves a customer fully depending on a single manufacturer.
While these rules may adversely affect businesses in the short-term, it will also promote the sales of new and improved versions of gadgets, ensuring profits for tech companies such as Apple, Samsung, Huawei etc.