![A common charger for electronic devices: Revision of the Radio Equipment Directive [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy Podcast]](https://i0.wp.com/epthinktank.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/EPRS-Briefing-698819-Common-charger-electronic-devices-FINAL.png?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1)
Written by Nikolina Šajn (4th edition, updated on 01.02.2023).
On 23 November 2022, the European Parliament and the Council signed the directive amending the 2014 Radio Equipment Directive, with the aim of mandating a common charger for mobile phones and a number of other small portable devices. The amended directive, proposed by the European Commission on 23 September 2021, will require electronic devices to be equipped with a USB Type‑C receptacle and to incorporate the USB Power Delivery communication protocol. A separate initiative on the eco-design of external power supplies is expected to ensure that the receptacle and the communication protocol are used on both ends of charger cables. Consumers will have the option to buy devices with or without a charger (unbundling) and will be informed by a pictogram whether a charger is included with a device. Information on the charging capabilities and compatible charging devices will be provided on a label. By the end of 2024, the Commission will be required to request the creation of harmonised standards for wireless charging, and will have to regularly assess whether the common charger should be made mandatory for additional devices. The directive applies to all devices covered from 28 December 2024 and to laptops from 28 April 2026.
Versions
| Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment |
| Committee responsible: | Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) | COM(2021) 547 23.9.2021 |
| Rapporteur: | Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, Malta) | 2021/0291(COD) |
| Shadow rapporteurs: | Andrey Kovatchev (EPP, Bulgaria) Róża Thun und Hohenstein (Renew, Poland) Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA, Germany) Marco Campomenosi (ID, Italy) Kosma Złotowski (ECR, Poland) Kateřina Konečná (The Left, Czechia) | Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
| Procedure completed Directive (EU) 2022/2380 OJ L 315, 7.12.2022, pp. 30–43 |
Listen to policy podcast ‘A common charger for electronic devices: Revision of the Radio Equipment Directive’ on YouTube.
Firstly, we totally support the proposition of common chargers for electronic devices. This is because it`ll be a win win situation for not just the customers, but also the producers. Well, why is that? Users of electronic devices like us often struggle with not being able to find a charger that fits their phone. Therefore, with equal chargers, these problems won`t be an issue. In addition, producing the same chargers would also be a decreasing impact on the pollution, because less pieces would be produced.