The Commission of the European Union (EU) has taken action to exempt certain products from the EU’s requirements on the removability and replaceability of portable batteries by consumers.
Published in mid-July, the Commission’s Delegated Regulation supplements existing EU regulations applicable to portable batteries regarding the ability of consumers to remove and replace batteries in certain products. Current EU battery regulations stipulate that portable batteries must generally be removable and replaceable by consumers. The intent of this requirement is to facilitate a longer useful product life and easier recycling of used batteries.
However, certain products are exempt from regulations requiring consumer removability and replaceability in cases when replacing a battery could pose safety risks to a consumer, or the technical complexity of a battery-powered device makes consumer access to the battery compartment difficult. Existing exemptions for consumer access include devices that can be exposed to water or that could expose children to unnecessary risks, as well as equipment used in hazardous industrial environments.
The Delegated Regulation adds a number of products to the list of those exempt from consumer access requirements, including the following:
- Appliances, including wearable devices designed for use in environments where exposure to water is possible;
- Professional medical imaging and radiotherapy devices;
- Wearable devices for which consumer access to the battery could compromise safety;
- Wireless thermometer probes designed for contact with food products;
- On-body delivery systems used for delivery of subcutaneous medicinal products; and
- Certain electric toys that incorporate rechargeable batteries.
The EU Parliament and Council now have two months to consider any objections to the proposed changes. If none are offered, the Delegated Regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
