EU Parliament approves new “common charger” rules for mobile phones and laptops

The move will also affect tablets and various other electronic devices.

The European Parliament has approved rules to introduce a "common charger" within the EU for portable electronic devices. Under the new law, by the end of 2024, all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in the European Union will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port. Also, from spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops. The changes were adopted on Tuesday (4 October), with 602 votes in favour of the move and only 13 against. In a statement on its website, the Parliament said the move is part of a "broader EU effort to reduce e-waste and to empower consumers to make more sustainable choices". "Under the new rules, consumers will no longer need a different charger every time they purchase a new device, as they will be able to use one single charger for a whole range of small and medium-sized portable electronic devices," it stated. "Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port." The Parliament said that these new obligations will lead to more re-use of chargers and will help consumers save up to €250 million a year on unnecessary charger purchases. It also stated that disposed of and unused chargers currently account for about 11,000 tonnes of e-waste annually in the EU. The changes come after years of discussion and are expected to cause problems for Apple, which continues to use its own-brand Lightning cables to charge most of its products.