Starting today, only electronic devices that can be charged with a USB-C cable are allowed to be sold in the European Union. This regulation applies to smartphones, gaming consoles, headphones, speakers, e-readers, and tablets.
Laptops are exempt until April 2026. The law aims to eliminate excessive cable clutter and promote environmental benefits by reducing the need for new cables with each device.
While most devices now support USB-C, this was not the case a few years ago when multiple types of cables, such as USB-A, Micro-USB, and Apple Lightning, were in use. Discussions about a unified charging standard have been ongoing since 2009.
The EU had urged manufacturers to adopt a common standard, but efforts stalled, with Apple notably persisting with its Lightning chargers. Additionally, products will now indicate whether they include a charging cable, with an icon on the packaging if one is included.
Source: NOS