New charging rules in the EU: which port will become mandatory and for which devices
27 November 02:36
The European Union continues to pursue the unification of electronic accessories. Following the introduction of the USB-C requirement for smartphones and tablets, the European Commission has adopted a new regulation that extends the Common Charger standard to other types of equipment. The document was published in the Official Journal of the EU, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The new rules will come into force on December 14, 2028, and will apply to almost all chargers with a capacity of up to 100 W.
What exactly is changing
According to the regulation, all chargers under 100 W will have to have a USB-C port. This means that most power adapters on the European market will become interchangeable.
Each adapter will meet the Common Charger requirement – a corresponding mark will appear on the case, confirming that it can be used with different types of equipment.
Which devices fall under the new standard
The new rules will apply to a wide range of electronics:
- external power supplies for wireless charging;
- chargers for general-purpose batteries;
- routers and modems;
- game consoles;
- power supplies for monitors and certain types of consoles, if they are connected to the power grid via an external converter.
In this way, the EU aims to reduce e-waste, make the use of technology more convenient, and allow consumers to avoid buying separate chargers for each device.
Why it is important for the European market
The EU’s e-port unification policy has been underway for several years. Previous stages:
- from December 2024: all smartphones and tablets sold in the EU must be equipped with USB-C;
- by April 2026: the same requirements will apply to laptops.
Extending the standard to other types of equipment is a logical step that should
- reduce confusion with different types of charging
- reduce consumer costs;
- reduce environmental damage;
- create one universal standard for most gadgets.
When the new standard will become mandatory
The regulation will come into force on December 14, 2028. Manufacturers will have more than four years to adapt their equipment and implement the transition.
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