In July 2023, a new EU battery regulation (Regulation 2023/1542) was approved by the EU. The aim of the regulation is to create a harmonized legislation for the sustainability and safety of batteries.
Which batteries are not covered by the EU directive?
The directive does not cover batteries used in equipment to protect EU countries' security or for military purposes, or in equipment designed to be sent into space. With some exceptions for portable batteries used in emergency and alarm systems or medical equipment.
Who is responsible for ensuring battery compliance in the EU?
These rules are applicable to all batteries entering the EU market, independently of their origin. For batteries manufactured outside the EU, it will be the importer or distributor of the batteries into the EU that needs to ensure compliance of the batteries with the relevant requirements set out in the Regulation. via notified bodies.
What does the new batteries regulation mean for the environment?
To minimise the environmental impacts of this growth and considering changes in society, new technological developments, markets and the uses of batteries, the European Commission proposed a new Batteries Regulation in 2020. The Regulation entered into force on 17 August 2023 and repeals the Batteries Directive (Directive 2006/66/EC).
Why did the European Commission propose a new battery directive?
The Commission proposed to revise this Directive in December 2020 due to new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly. It is set to increase 14-fold globally by 2030 and the EU could account for 17% of that demand.
Since 2006, batteries and waste batteries have been regulated at EU level under the Batteries Directive. The Commission proposed to revise this Directive in December 2020 due to new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly.
Is the EU batteries directive up-to-date?
The existing EU Batteries Directive dates back to 2006 and is no longer up-to-date. New socio-economic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses have emerged and the environmental challenges they pose have to be met with a new ambition.