One Plug and Done: EU Demands Universal Changing Cable

European Union officials have actually settled on brand-new rules requiring a uniform charging cable for smartphones and other devices.

LONDON (AP)– European Union officials agreed Tuesday on brand-new rules demanding a uniform charging cable for smartphones and other devices, a step that would certainly make life simpler for consumers fed up with rummaging through a web of cords for the right one.

EU negotiators claimed they inked a provisional agreement on a “single charging solution,” part of a larger effort to make products sold in the 27-nation bloc much more sustainable and reduce electronic waste.

The brand-new guidelines

The brand-new guidelines, which will take effect by fall 2024, indicate EU consumers will only need to use a common USB Type-C cord for small and medium-sized rechargeable, portable electronic devices.

The devices covered include smartphones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles, and portable speakers.

Laptops also are covered. However, manufacturers will have more time to comply.

Although many electronics manufacturers have adopted USB-C sockets in their devices, Apple has been one of the few companies that have not.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment, but the company has previously expressed concerns that the guidelines would limit innovation and harm consumers. Apple’s iPhones currently use their proprietary Lightning charging port, but newer models include cables that can be plugged into a USB-C socket.

The EU guidelines also establish standards for fast charging technology and grant consumers the option to purchase new devices with or without a charger. The EU estimates that this could save consumers €250 million ($266 million) annually.

Electronic waste

Minimizing electronic waste is another goal. The EU estimates that disposed or unused chargers represent 11,000 metric tons of e-waste in Europe annually.

The EU spent over a decade trying to encourage the electronics industry to adopt a common charging standard, an initiative that trimmed different charging plugs down to a handful until the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, forced the concern with draft legislation last September.

The European Parliament and European Council are predicted to formally approve the agreement after the summer break.

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