As of Saturday, all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports to address the waste issue.
From Saturday, EU consumers will no longer need different chargers for their smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, games consoles and other devices, as USB Type-C charging ports are set to become standard for mobile tools across the bloc.
In 2022, the European Parliament and Member States overwhelmingly voted to abolish alternative charging methods, meaning that all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports.
Under EU rules, consumers can also choose not to get a new charger for every device they buy.
The same rules will apply to laptop manufacturers from 28 April 2026.
Opposition to EU plans to standardise chargers
Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, said in a press statement that it "marks a decisive step towards consumer convenience and environmental responsibility".
"These rules aim to tackle the tonnes of waste generated each year by discarded chargers and save EU households an estimated €250 million by eliminating unnecessary charger purchases each year," Cavazzini added.
Parliament said it would "closely monitor" how manufacturers adapt to these changes.
Electronic equipment manufacturers have long resisted EU efforts to standardise charging technologies.
The decision will affect all providers, but most notably Apple, which initially challenged the rules citing concerns about innovation.
However, the big tech giant has started to comply with the directive and has switched to USB-C for its devices.
Euronews/ gnews - RoZ
ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO - pixabay
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