USB-C will become the standard port in 2024

On June 8, 2022By Garmin Philip

EU Parliament agrees on charging standard

Smartphones, notebooks and more will soon be using a standard charging cable. The EU has agreed on USB-C as the standard from 2024.

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The EU Parliament in Strasbourg decided on a uniform charging cable standard.

Updated June 08, 2022

From 2024, USB-C is to become the uniform charging cable standard in the EU. The EU Parliament and member states have agreed on this. Smartphones, cameras, laptops and other devices are affected by the rule. The agreement still has to be officially decided, but this is considered a mere formality.

Older devices that come onto the market before 2024 are not retrospectively affected by the regulation. A retrofit by the manufacturer does not have to be done. From mid-2024, however, new devices will have to be equipped with the charging standard. The EU Commission expects savings of up to 11,000 tons of electronic waste per year because end customers no longer have to resort to different charging cables.

More to EU agreement on USB-C as charging cable standard read about it from our colleagues at connect.de.

Original report from April 22, 2022: EU committee wants uniform charging cables

The EU Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) has spoke out for a uniform charging cable standard. With a voting result of 43-2, one spoke out in favor of such a mandatory regulation. The USB-C connector format is mentioned as the recommended option.

Mobile phones, tablets, laptops, handheld consoles, headphones and cameras would be affected by the standard. Devices in which no USB-C connection can be accommodated due to their design are explicitly excluded. This applies to smartwatches and health trackers, for example.

One of the aims of the regulation is to make electronic devices more sustainable. A uniform standard would eliminate the need to buy special chargers. In addition, end customers should be less bound to certain products. Says Alex Agius Saliba (MT, S&D):

“Given that half a billion portable device chargers are shipped in Europe every year, generating 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste, a unified charger for mobile phones and other small and medium-sized electronic devices would benefit everyone.”

MEPs also express concerns about charging technology fragmentation in wireless charging. In order to avoid a situation like that with charging cables, they are calling on the EU Commission to present a strategy for interoperable charging technologies by 2026.

The EU Parliament will vote on the regulation of the committee in May. If successful, the MPs then enter into discussions with the individual member states in order to implement the uniform standard.