You may soon need to change your charging cable with this new law

By the end of 2024, all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices must be equipped with USB-C charging ports. This includes mobile phones, tablets, cameras, headphones and portable video game consoles. The new regulation applies to all European Union (EU) countries.

A long overdue project becomes a reality

In practice, this means that consumers will no longer need a separate charger for each device, but will only be able to use one charger for all their products. Alex Agius Saliba, a Member of the European Parliament, is the driving force behind the new legislation and was quoted by Euronews:

The common charger is finally becoming a reality in Europe. We have waited more than ten years for these rules, but now we can finally make the current plethora of chargers a thing of the past.

The change in the law, which has been around for a long time, should contribute to the future development of innovative charging solutions and benefit both consumers and the environment.

A defeat for the manufacturers

Manufacturers of electronic devices have always resisted the standardisation of charging technologies. In the meantime, however, most of them have introduced the USB-C standard, but one particular manufacturer continues to oppose it: Apple.

The company from California had already previously criticised the proposal for a common charger. The company even commissioned a study from Copenhagen Economics that said the unified plugs would do more harm than good. Alex Agius Saliba can only smile about Apple's behaviour and says in an interview with Euronews:

Basically, Apple is the elephant in the room when it comes to smartphones. And yes, Apple will have to comply with the USB-C standard from 2024 in order to sell its products in the European single market.

Brussels gives its blessing

In the European Parliament in Brussels, the majority agrees with Saliba's proposal and is waiting for the new legislation to be blessed by the EU Council. After that, member states will have until the end of 2024 to effectively apply the rules.

Ultimately, the new legislation will go a long way towards reducing waste by reducing the number of unused cables. There will also be the option to buy devices with or without charging cables.

It seems that the UK will not follow suit, according to the BBCthe UK government is not 'currently considering' this new law.

This article was translated from Gentsie DE.

Sources used:

-Euronews: 'EU-wide common charger for mobile devices to become a reality in 2024'

-Copenhagen Economics: 'EU CONSUMERS’ EVIDENCE SHOWS INNOVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS WITH POSSIBLE COMMON CHARGER REGULATION'

-BBC 'UK will not copy EU demand for common charging cable'

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