The EU expands the rules on chargers: As of today, USB-C is mandatory for laptops

This change is the result of long-term political pressure, especially from the European Parliament, which has been advocating the introduction of a universal solution for more than a decade. As the industry’s voluntary agreements did not bring the desired results, the European Commission proposed a legislative framework in September 2021, which was then formalized through Directive (EU) 2022/2380, which amended the existing rules on placing radio equipment on the market.

A long way to a unique fillingč

In the discussion in the European Parliament, the representatives pointed out that the wordč about a measure that benefits consumers and the environment at the same time. Maltese reporter Alex Agius Saliba, from the Club of Socialists and Democrats, warned that the short life cycle of devices generates around 11,000 tons of e-waste per year just from discarded or unused chargers, with millions of dollars in disposal costs. “The simplest solutions are often the best and often the most practical. A unique solution of this nature will save us thousands of tons of e-waste every year, will enable the reuse of old devices, will be more convenient for consumers, and at the same time will save us and help the environment and we save millions of euros on an annual basis”, he said, adding that the new rules will also support fast charging and leave room for technological progress, while consumers will still be able to choose whether they want to buy a device with or without a charger.

A similar emphasis was put by the Bulgarian member of the European Parliament from the ranks of citizens, Andrey Kovatchev, who pointed out that “the main motive for the adoption of this legislative act is to make everyday life easier for millions of European consumers”, recalling that it has been too long for the market to self-regulate. “It is important that we have a standard at the level of the European Union, but the goal is to achieve it at the global level and for the EU to serve as an example,” he added.

Croatian representatives also actively participated in the design of this regulation. Biljana Borzan (SDP) reminded that the single charge has been discussed for more than a decade and that the word about the success of the European Parliament. “My first discussion on this topic was back in 2013, when I came to the Parliament. According to my research, 92.9 percent of Croatian citizens support the introduction of the same charger for small devices. It’s nice to fulfill the promise, even if the process took a long time,” she said.

Tomislav Sokol (HDZ) also highlighted the political difficulty of the process that led to the adoption of the regulation: “The path to the introduction of a single charger was neither easy nor simple. For a long time, mobile phone manufacturers assured us that the problem with accumulating chargers would be solved voluntarily by various non-binding mechanisms”. “The lobbying of technological giants was truly unprecedented until then,” he added.

Sokol estimates that “by reducing charging, the amount of electronic waste will be reduced by about a thousand tons per year, thereby showing responsible behavior towards the environment.”

One fillsč for multiple devices

In Croatia, this European obligation was transferred through the Ordinance on radio equipment (Official Gazette 56/2024), which regulates in detail the technical requirements and conditions for placing radio equipment on the market, including the rules on charging the device. The Ordinance directly incorporates the relevant European directives into the national legislation, including the changes that introduce a single filler, and its implementation will cover the entire chain, from the manufacturer and importer to the distributor.

In particular, the technical addendum to the regulation stipulates that certain categories of devices, including laptops, must be equipped with a USB-C connector that is available and operable at all times, and that they can be charged with cables that meet the European standard for USB-C interfaces. Additionally, for devices that support higher charging power, an obligation to be compatible with the USB PD (English USB Power Delivery) standard is introduced, in order to ensure the interoperability of different chargers and devices regardless of the manufacturer.

Thus, the Croatian regulatory framework precisely defines the technical standards and obligations of economic entities, including the obligation that products bear a conformity mark, have appropriate technical documentation and be accompanied by instructions in the Croatian language. In practice, this means that all devices covered by the regulation, including laptops, must be fully interoperable in terms of charging before they can be placed on the Croatian market, in order to ensure the consistent implementation of European regulations for domestic consumers as well.

By extending the obligation to portable computers, the EU completes one of the most visible examples of regulation aimed directly at the everyday life of citizens. One fillsč for multiple devices aims to reduce costs, simplify the use of technology and at the same time contribute to the goals of the circular economy, confirming the Union’s ambition to set standards not only at the European, but also at the global level.