Apple will have to use standard chargers in the European Union after approval of the standard

Washington (CNN Business) — Apple and other smartphone makers will be required to use the USB-C cable as part of a single charging standard for mobile devices across the European Union starting in the fall of 2024, according to a new law announced Tuesday by government officials. the European Union.

The legislation aims to reduce electronic waste and eliminate “cable clutter”, said Margrethe Vestager, vice president of the European Commission. According to a statement, “Cell phones, tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headsets, handheld game consoles, and portable speakers that charge via a cable will need to be equipped with a USB Type-C port, regardless of its manufacture.

The upcoming rules will apply to new small and medium-sized electronic devices sold in the European Union.

Chargers that support fast charging will also have to adopt the same charging speeds. The measure does not affect wireless charging technologies, and consumers will have to be able to choose to buy a device without a charger included.

The new standard means important changes for Apple users. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but during the legislative process, the company told European Union officials that the proposed rule would render up to 1 billion devices and accessories that use the company’s proprietary Lightning connector obsolete. according to a report by the European Parliament.

A 2021 study cited in the same report found that iPhones with the Lightning connector accounted for 18% of new cell phone sales in 2019, with 44% using USB-C and 38% using the older Micro-USB connector. b.

Indications of the end of Apple’s Lightning connector had been there for some time. Apple already uses the USB-C standard on some Macs and iPads and, apparently, is testing iPhone models that swap out the Lightning port. But Tuesday’s announcement could hasten Apple’s move to USB-C and potentially prompt the company to ditch the Lightning charger worldwide for good.

Efforts to impose a single charging standard in Europe go back more than a decade. At one point, the authorities secured industry support for the USB Micro-B standard, but a voluntary agreement between major manufacturers to that effect expired in 2014 and was not superseded. Instead, the next law that will require USB-C is one of the first of its kind.

Tuesday’s announcement followed trilateral negotiations by the European Commission, Parliament and the Council. The charging measure still needs to receive final approval before it goes into effect, but the process is largely considered a formality.