The European Commission announced new exceptions to the European Union’s removable battery regulation, which will come into force in 2027. Within the scope of the prepared draft, various wearable electronic products, especially smart watches, will be exempt from the obligation to have user-replaceable batteries. Thus, manufacturers will be able to largely preserve the current design approach in these products. Although the draft has not yet received final approval, it is expected to enter into force in a short time if there are no objections in the European Parliament and the European Council.
The European Union implemented the new Battery Regulation in 2023 within the scope of the European Green Deal. The main purpose of the regulation was to reduce electronic waste, extend the lifespan of products and support the circular economy. Accordingly, while it is aimed for consumers to change their device batteries more easily, most of the relevant obligations will begin to be implemented in 2027. The regulation has already caused some manufacturers to review their product designs. For example, Nintendo announced that it would prepare a different version with a user-replaceable battery for the new Switch 2 model.
Wearable devices and some special products are excluded from the scope
The draft published by the Commission excludes six different product groups from the new battery obligation. These include smart watches, fitness bracelets, smart glasses and electronic devices integrated into clothing or different accessories. In addition, certain medical devices, electronic toys, portable thermometers, roof-mounted telematics systems and electronic equipment designed for use in explosive environments are also included in the scope of exemption.
The Commission points out that providing direct user access to the battery section, especially in wearable devices, may negatively affect features such as security, durability and water protection. For this reason, it was preferred not to require the user to open the products in question. However, the exemption does not mean that the devices will be completely unrepairable. Many products will need to be designed to accommodate battery replacement by authorized or trained technical personnel.
Although wireless headphones are not explicitly mentioned in the draft, the expressions used show that products such as Apple AirPods can be evaluated within the same scope. It seems possible that devices, especially those where user access to the battery compartment may negatively affect the safety, durability or water resistance performance of the product, can benefit from this exception.
Smartphones are not among the products excluded from the regulation. However, current European Union rules do not necessarily require battery replacement to be as simple as older designs where the back cover was easily removed. Different repair methods are also accepted if manufacturers provide the necessary special equipment to the user or if battery replacement does not endanger safety. Systems that allow users to make repairs with official tools and parts, such as Apple’s Self Service Repair program, are considered to be compatible with the current regulation.
The draft adopted by the Commission will now be submitted for review by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. If the relevant institutions do not object within the specified period, the regulation will enter into force within 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
When the European Union first announced the battery regulation, it emphasized that it aimed to create a more sustainable electronic ecosystem. According to the commission, users’ ability to replace batteries will extend the life of the devices, increase the reuse rate and reduce the amount of electronic waste. However, in some product groups, design and safety requirements necessitate a balance between these goals and technical limitations. The new exemption for wearable devices also stands out as a result of this approach and shows that the European Union takes into account the technical needs of different product categories while maintaining its reparability targets.
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