Epitalia –
Parliament has finally approved the new rules for the design, production and management of all types of batteries sold in the EU and their waste.
With 587 votes in favour, 9 against and 20 abstentions, MEPs approved the agreement reached with the Council for the revision of EU rules on batteries and waste derived from them. The new legislative text takes into account technological developments and future challenges in the sector and will cover the entire life cycle of batteries.
Key measures set out in the regulation:
Mandatory carbon footprint declaration and labeling for electric vehicle (EV) and light truck (LMT) batteries and industrial rechargeable batteries above 2kWh;
Design portable appliance batteries so that consumers can easily remove and replace them;
· A digital passport for LMT batteries, industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh and EV batteries;
· A ‘due diligence’ policy for all economic operators, except SMEs;
· More ambitious waste collection targets: for portable batteries – 45% by 2023, 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030; for LMT batteries – 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031;
Minimum levels of materials recovered from battery waste: Lithium – 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031; cobalt, copper, lead and nickel – 90% by 2027 and 95% by 2031;
Minimum levels of recycled content from manufacturing and consumer waste for use in new batteries – eight years after the regulation takes effect: 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel; 13 years later: 26% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 12% for lithium and 15% for nickel.
Rapporteur Achille Variati (S&D, IT) said: “For the first time we have circular economy legislation that covers the whole life cycle of a product – an approach that is good for both the environment and the economy. We have reached an agreement on measures that bring great benefits to consumers: batteries will be better functioning, safer and easier to remove. Our aim is to build a stronger European recycling industry, especially for lithium, and a competitive industrial sector. Aspects that will be fundamental in the coming decades for the energy transition and strategic autonomy of our continent. These measures could become a point of reference for the entire global battery market”.
After the final vote in plenary, the Council will have to formally approve the text before its publication in the Official Journal of the EU and its entry into force.
In December 2020, the Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on batteries and waste batteries. The proposal aims to strengthen the internal market, promoting a circular economy and reducing the environmental and social impact throughout the life cycle of batteries. The initiative is closely linked to the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the New Industrial Strategy.
By adopting this legislation, Parliament responds to citizens’ expectations to build and invest in a circular economy, promoting sustainable and non-polluting products and production methods, as expressed in proposals 3(3), 3(6), 4(3) , 5(1), 5(3) and 5(8) of the conclusions of the Conference on the future of Europe.
