
The EU regulations also include requirements for battery makers to declare and label their products’ carbon footprint. “In some cases, such as foldable phones, a design change to make batteries easily replaceable could be much harder,” said an industry official in Korea. We’ll respond accordingly,” said a Samsung official.Īnalysts said smartphone makers such as Apple, Samsung and China’s Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, which export their products to Europe, might be forced to change the designs of their phones, at cost, to comply with the rules. "We are aware of the provisions related to battery detachment. 1 premium smartphone maker, has been manufacturing iPhones with integrated batteries since 2007 and Samsung, the largest mobile phone maker by volume, has done so with its Galaxy series of smartphones since 2015. Many expensive smartphones come with an integrated battery, making it virtually impossible for end users to replace it.Īpple, the world’s No. The new rules, albeit undecided on the exact implementation timing, will affect the design, production and waste management of almost all types of batteries sold in the EU. The law isn’t specific to mobile phones but covers various types of batteries, including those in laptops and other portable devices.

The parliament passed a new law June 14 that requires smartphones to come with batteries that can be easily replaced by the user. The new rules approved by the EU parliament last week are a welcome change, but excessive control over the manufacturing sector might hurt non-EU companies’ business activities, boosting unnecessary costs and stunting new technology, analysts said. The European Union’s decision to go greener with batteries that cut carbon emissions and promote recycling comes with a few caveats, posing a headache for leading smartphone makers such as Samsung Electronics Co.

The EU is strengthening its battery regulations for non-EU companies
