The European Commission has revised its battery regulations, exempting devices such as the Apple Watch from requirements that allow users to remove and replace batteries. Here are the details:
Apple Watch and other wearables exempt from EU battery rules
as discovered by politikoThe European Union has eased battery rules for certain wearable devices after U.S. authorities criticized restrictions on products such as Meta’s smart glasses.
The bloc’s battery regulations generally require that portable batteries embedded in products be removable and replaceable by the user over the life of the device.
The European Commission has now adopted an exception covering certain wearable devices whose safety, durability, or water resistance may be compromised by user access to the battery. This includes devices that are too small to safely replace batteries or that rely on compact, sealed enclosures.
This includes smart watches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, and other small wearable devices.
The European Commission has adopted the exemption, but it must be scrutinized by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
From the European Commission website:
After adoption by the European Commission, delegated legislation will be sent to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for scrutiny. If the European Parliament or the Council does not object, it will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Today’s changes come after the US ambassador to the EU criticized the battery rules, which reportedly hindered the European rollout of Meta’s new smart glasses. Comment on the changes to politikoHowever, a European Commission spokesperson rejected the idea that the bloc had caved in to pressure.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said in a statement that it was “not bowing to anyone’s pressure”, adding that the Commission’s proposals were “based on extensive public consultation with consumer organisations, industry stakeholders and member states”. The spokesperson added that the proposed exemption “does not regulate specific products” and is “aimed at ensuring the safety of consumer and industrial products where opening the equipment may pose a safety risk or where technological limitations make consumer access impractical.”
Regardless, today’s news removes a potential regulatory hurdle for Apple in Europe, allowing the Apple Watch to maintain its sealed battery design without requiring a major redesign for the EU market.
To read the full text of the European Commission’s Delegation Bill, please click on this link.
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