All telephones, tablets and other consumer electronics in the European Union must be able to use a standard charger with a USB-C connection. A final agreement on this is expected to be reached on Tuesday, reports Reuters Friday.
According to the news agency, the EU Member States and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on this point. Once the new law is officially approved, manufacturers will have two years to adapt to the new standard.
According to the European Commission, using a standard charger is a lot more convenient for consumers. Now many different chargers are often needed for different devices.
European Commissioner Thierry Breton said earlier that he would like to see that change. “Soon all members of a family should be able to use exactly the same charger, regardless of their phone.”
The law also states that the sale of chargers will be separated from the sale of devices. In addition, a universal charger could save a lot of waste, because manufacturers still supply standard chargers with their products.
The EU has been working on plans for a universal charger since 2010, but has so far waited for voluntary steps from companies. They largely failed to materialize.
Apple previously reported that it does not like the plans of the European Union. According to the tech giant, these would lead to stagnating innovation. They would also create mountains of electronic waste, because accessories for Apple devices already on the market could no longer be used.
–
