6.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 152/83
1.8.
The EESC notes that batteries can have a shorter life span than the rest of the device.
It recommends that batteries for use in computers, tablets or mobile phones adhere to the same standards, so that they can be replaced rather than having to buy a whole new device if the battery malfunctions prematurely. 1.9.
The EESC wishes to emphasise the responsibility of manufacturers of electronic devices when it comes to sustainable development by calling on them to ensure that the cost of replacing the battery remains low, and that technical feasibility discourages users from replacing the whole electronic device when only the battery needs to be replaced. 1.10.
The EESC calls on the Commission to recommend that manufacturers do not try to circumvent the legislation by changing the voltage or amperage, which would result in the brand’s charger having to be used, thereby undermining the aims of the directive. 1.11.
The EESC recommends that the Commission and the European Parliament launch a major public information campaign as soon as the legislative process is completed, to ensure that consumers are informed and to encourage them to only purchase devices with a USB-C interface in future.
2.
Background 2.1.
Since 2009, the Commission has been seeking to limit the fragmentation of the market for charging interfaces for mobile phones and similar devices.
However, these initiatives only led to voluntary schemes (2) that are not legally binding and thus do not ensure consistent and uniform application. 2.2.
Recent voluntary initiatives do not fully meet Union policy objectives to reduce electronic waste (e-waste), improve consumer convenience and avoid fragmentation of the charging devices market. 2.3.
The absence of harmonisation in this area may lead to substantial differences between Member States’ laws, regulations, administrative provisions and practices regarding the interoperability of mobile phones and similar categories or classes of radio equipment with their chargers, and the supply of radio equipment without chargers. 2.4.
As a result, EU action is required to promote a common degree of interoperability and the provision of information relating to the charging characteristics of radio equipment to end-users. 2.5.
In January 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution (3) calling for the urgent adoption of a standard for a common charger for mobile phones in order to avoid further internal market fragmentation. 2.6.
It is estimated that mobile phone chargers were responsible for around 11 000 tonnes of e-waste in 2018 and that the associated life-cycle emissions were around 600 ktCO2e. 2.7.
The EU is committed to boosting the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy through the introduction of initiatives such as Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) and more recently through the introduction of the European Green Deal.
This Directive aims to reduce the e-waste generated by the sale of radio equipment and to reduce the extraction of raw materials and the CO2 emissions generated by the production, transportation and disposal of chargers, thereby promoting a circular economy. 2.8.
The proposal aims to introduce suitable requirements in Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) regarding the charging communication protocols, the charging interface (i.e. the charging receptacle) of certain categories or classes of radio equipment, as well as the information to be provided to end-users regarding the charging characteristics of those categories or classes of radio equipment.
(2) (3) (4) (5)
https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/2417/attachments/1/translations European Parliament resolution of 30 January 2020 on a common charger for mobile radio equipment (2019/2983(RSP)) (OJ C 331, 17.8.2021, p. 2).
Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (OJ L 197, 24.7.2012, p. 38).
Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC (OJ L 153, 22.5.2014, p. 62).