Push to mandate one standard charger for all phones
Push to mandate one standard charger for all phones
Do you think tech companies should be forced to make their devices with one type of charger? The EU is one step closer to making it happen.
A push for every phone to have the same charger in 27 European countries is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The European Union plan would force technology manufacturers to use a common charger (USB Type-C port) for portable electronic devices, including phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and portable speakers.
Members of the European parliament (MEP) in a relevant committee voted 41 to 2 in support of the proposal this week.
The proposal needs to be approved next month at a plenary session, where all 705 members will attend, and then talks can begin with EU governments on the final legislation.
The goal is to reduce electronic waste and make things more convenient for consumers.
On top of mandating a universal charging port, the MEPs want clearer product labelling, including information on charging options and whether the product includes a charger.
They say it will help consumers make purchasing decisions if they already own multiple devices and do not need additional chargers.
MEP Alexander Agius Saliba, from Malta, said the plan would help the environment, reduce inconvenience, and save both consumers and businesses money.
“ With half a billion chargers for portable devices shipped in Europe each year, generating 11,000 to 13,000 tonnes of e-waste, a single charger for mobile phones and other small and medium electronic devices would benefit everyone,” he said.
Last year, tech giant Apple warned that the European Commission’s proposed universal charger rule would harm innovation.
“ We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world,” the company, which uses a custom charging port for its iPhones, told the BBC.
On Wednesday, Mr Agius Saliba pointed out the European Commission’s proposal had been expanded on.
“ We are proposing a truly comprehensive policy intervention, building on the Commission’s proposal by calling for the interoperability of wireless charging technologies by 2026 and improving information given to consumers with dedicated labels,” he said.
“ We are also expanding the proposal’s scope by adding more products, such as laptops, that will need to comply with the new rules.”
