Since 2009, the Commission has been seeking to limit the fragmentation of the market for charging interfaces for mobile phones and similar devices. However, such initiatives only led to voluntary schemes that are not legally binding and thus do not ensure consistent and uniform application.
In June 2009, following a request from the Commission, major producers of mobile telephones agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on harmonising chargers for data-enabled mobile phones sold in the EU1. The signatories agreed to develop a common specification based on the USB 2.0 micro-B interface, which would allow full charging compatibility with the mobile phones to be placed on the market.
The MoU reduced market fragmentation and attracted almost global alignment. Its implementation led to an effective reduction in the number of charging solutions for mobile phones from 30 to only three. However, the MoU also allowed for the use of proprietary charging interfaces, and one such solution continued to be used (and still is) by a major mobile phone manufacturer, thus preventing full interoperability. In addition, the MoU never addressed the environmental issues arising from the continued existence of those different charging interfaces and charging communication protocols.
Without EU action, this fragmentation of the market for charging interfaces and charging communication protocols is expected to persist and environmental impacts will remain unaddressed.
Ever since the MoU expired in 2014 (after two letters of renewal), the European Commission has been trying to foster the adoption of a new voluntary agreement. In March 2018, following several rounds of discussion among the relevant manufacturers and exchanges of views with the Commission, the industry proposed a new MoU on a future common charging solution for smartphones. However, the Commission did not consider the new MoU to be satisfactory as it is not in line with the EU’s harmonisation objectives, which seek to limit fragmentation of charging solutions (both the charging interfaces and the charging communication protocols) for mobile phones and similar items of radio equipment. The proposed new MoU continued to allow for proprietary solutions (vendor-specific connection means), which the Commission no longer considers justified in view of the technical advantages provided by the introduction of the USB Type-C interface.
In this context, the Commission launched in 2018 an impact assessment study for a possible proposal aimed at implementing a common solution for charging mobile phones (and possibly other similar categories or classes of radio equipment). While the original objective of this initiative was to improve consumer convenience, the study concluded, that imposing a common charging interface and a common charging communication protocol on the side of the radio equipment (smartphones, but possibly also tablets, cameras, readers, etc.), while encouraging or imposing unbundling (i.e. the supply to the end-user of the radio equipment without the charging device), would benefit consumers and reduce electronic waste (e-waste).
It concluded that only harmonising the charging interface (in the case of radio equipment charged via wired charging this interface being the charging receptacle) would not achieve full interoperability of charge. In fact, currently, various charging communication protocols exist and not all ensure the same charging performance if a charging device from another brand is used. Additionally, the study concluded that having a common charging device across different types of radio equipment would be likely to increase consumer convenience overall. Regarding wireless charging (i.e. more generally charging technology other than wired charging), the study concluded that if any breakthroughs in wireless charging technology were to happen, this could undermine the rationale for a common connector solution, by significantly reducing the relevance of wired charging solutions in general. In the light of these conclusions, in October 2020 the Commission launched two complementary studies, on unbundling mobile phones and similar portable electronic devices and wireless charging technologies in order to strengthen the evidence base for the proposal.
In January 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution2 calling for the urgent adoption of a standard for a common charger for mobile phones in order to avoid further internal market fragmentation. Specifically, the resolution called on the Commission to adopt a legislative measure, if necessary, to establish a common charger. It also urged the Commission to ensure that consumers are no longer obliged to buy new chargers with each new item of radio equipment and that unbundling measures (consisting in the supply to the end-user of radio equipment without a charging device) should be introduced with a common charging solution, as otherwise the aim of reducing the volume of charging devices produced per year and hence reducing electronic waste (e-waste) would not be achieved.
The Commission adjusted 2020 work programme3, specifically states that there will be a new proposal on common chargers for mobile phones and similar categories or classes of radio equipment.
In order to achieve the ultimate goal of a common charger and as preconditions for impactful and meaningful unbundling, the three supporting studies, which were conducted found that radio equipment shall integrate: a harmonised charging interface at the radio equipment end (the charging receptacle in the case of radio equipment charged via wired charging), a minimum common interoperability of charging through a harmonised charging communication protocol, and detailed information about charging requirements of the radio equipment.
The design of radio equipment falls within the scope of Directive 2014/53/EU4 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment. On the other hand, the characteristics of the external power supply are falling within the scope of the Directive 2009/125/EC of establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products.5
This proposal is aimed at preventing fragmentation of the market when it comes to charging interfaces and charging communication protocols, enhancing consumer convenience and reducing e-waste. In particular, it will:
- harmonise the charging interface for mobile phones and similar categories or classes of radio equipment (tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers) that are recharged via a wired charging, so that they can be recharged by using a common charging receptacle;
- guarantee that such devices, where they support fast charging, incorporate at least the same charging communication protocol;
- allow for future harmonisation in this area in response to technological developments, including harmonisation of any type of charging interface other than wired charging;
- introduce requirements so that end-users are not obliged to purchase a new charging device whenever they purchase a new mobile phone or similar item of radio equipment and;
- introduce requirements so that, when purchasing a mobile phone or similar item of radio equipment, end-users receive the necessary information on its charging performance characteristics and the charging device that can be used with it.
An Impact Assessment was carried out to examine policy options for:
(a) harmonisation of the radio equipment charging interface;
(b) support for the relevant charging communication protocol on the radio equipment and informing consumers about the charging performance; and
(c) making available on the market of at least unbundled solution.
Policy Option (A) Harmonisation of the end-device connector (B) Support of the relevant charging protocol on the end-device and informing consumers about charging performance (C) Making available on the market at least unbundled6 solutions Option 0 No action No action No action
Option 1
Mandatory
No action
No action Option 2 No action Mandatory No action
Option 3
No action
Mandatory
Mandatory Option 4 Mandatory Mandatory No action
Option 5
Mandatory
Mandatory
Mandatory
For all options, there are sub-options of a narrow scope (i.e. covering mobile phones only) or a broader scope (also including certain devices with charging characteristics that are comparable to those of a mobile phone). The preferred policy option is option 5 with a broad scope as it involves the fairest trade-off between all the objectives and allow a win-win situation for the majority of stakeholders and the environment.
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https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents ... ons/native