Regulations standardizing the use of USB-C-charging technologies are now in effect throughout the European Union (EU) and applicable to all mobile phones and other portable electronic devices sold or marketed there.
The regulations, which came into effect on December 28, 2024, were authorized under the EU’s Common Charger Directive, which was approved by the EU Council in October 2022. Under the Directive, a wide range of devices, including mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, portable speakers, keyboards, and videogame consoles, must support USB-C charging. The regulations will also apply to laptop computers, effective April 28, 2026.
According to an article posted on the website of the European Commission, the change will help users reduce the number of different chargers required to power their devices, thereby helping to reduce electronic waste. Previous research by the Commission estimated that the average consumer owned three different mobile device chargers to ensure reliable access to compatible charging technologies and that disposed chargers constituted 11,000 metric tons of e-waste every year.
The EU Commission’s article on the implementation of its charger rules is available at https://commission.europa.eu/news/eu-common-charger-rules-power-all-your-devices-single-charger-2024-12-28_en.
