Closed call for evidence

Common charger for electrical devices: call for evidence

Published 9 October 2024

About this Call for Evidence

We consider that it would potentially help businesses and deliver consumer and environmental benefits if we were to introduce standardised requirements for chargers, similar to the Common Charger Directive, across the whole UK. We are seeking views from manufacturers, importers, distributors, and trade associations as to whether it would be helpful to do so and, if so, whether this should be based on USB-C – as adopted by the EU. We also want to hear about the issues and practicalities a similar approach may involve.

This call for evidence will run for 8 weeks from 9 October 2024 to 11:59pm on 4 December 2024.

About common chargers

Recent developments in wired charging technologies and evolving international standards provide potential opportunities to reduce electronic waste and benefit consumers through enabling the adoption of a standardised charger for smartphones and similar devices.

The European Union has adopted a ‘Common Charger’ Directive (Directive (EU) 2022/2380) amending the EU’s Radio Equipment Directive (Directive 2014/53/EU). The ‘common charging’ requirements will apply to all handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems placed on the EU market from 28 December 2024. These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026.

The main elements are as follows:

• Simplified charging whereby USB-C will be the common charging port, meaning that one charger will work for multiple devices, bringing cost savings and environmental benefits.
• Standardised fast charging technology meaning that charging speed is the same when using any compatible charger for a device.
• ‘Unbundling’ the sale of a charger – meaning consumers will have the option to purchase new devices without a charger, reducing electronic waste.
• Additional visual and written information about charging characteristics, the power the device requires, and whether it supports fast charging – thereby improving information availability for consumers.

The measures are expected to improve consumers’ convenience, and reduce the environmental footprint associated with the production and disposal of chargers, while maintaining innovation.

The UK’s Radio Equipment Regulations 2017

The UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 implemented the EU Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU into UK law and have been amended to reflect that the UK is no longer part of the EU. The purpose of the UK Regulations is to regulate the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of radio equipment and to promote protection of the radio spectrum.

We consider that manufacturers are likely to adopt a similar approach to the EU Common Charger Directive for the whole of the UK on a voluntary basis in order to avoid supply chain complexity. As a result, the USB-C charging port is likely to become the industry default. While the impact is likely to be low, as industry continues to move towards USB-C for wired charging, the Government considers that it would potentially help businesses and deliver consumer and environmental benefits if we were to implement an equivalent charging solution across the UK. We are first seeking necessary evidence to better understand the expected implications of doing so.

The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which was introduced in September, will provide enabling powers that will allow the Government to update our Radio Equipment Regulations 2017.

The issues on which we are seeking views

We are seeking views on the following areas:

• the potential costs and benefits of introducing similar measures
• the issues and practicalities of the ‘common charging’ requirements

Q1: What issues should be considered if common charger measures were introduced across the UK?

The Government is considering whether it should introduce common charger measures for certain portable electrical/electronic devices across the UK.

• What practicalities or wider issues might similar ‘common charging’ requirements involve?
• What practicalities might this involve for manufacturers, importers and distributors?
• Overall, would you be in favour of legislation to introduce ‘common charging’ requirements?
• If so, should similar ‘common charger’ requirements be based on USB-C, as adopted by the EU?
• What would you see as the benefits of this approach?
• What would be the result if we were not to introduce similar legislation across the UK?

Q2 Issues and practicalities of a common charger solution based on USB-C

The Government is considering whether it should introduce common charger measures based on USB-C across the UK.

• What practicalities might this involve for manufacturers, importers and distributors?
• What costs would there be for these businesses?
• What benefits would there be for these businesses?
• Are there any product safety implications for this approach, or wider issues?
• Are there potential obstacles to innovation from adopting USB-C as a common port?

Q3: Issues and practicalities of harmonised fast charging (for relevant equipment that supports it)

The Government is considering whether it should introduce a requirement for harmonised fast-charging technology, with the aim of preventing different producers from limiting charging speed and to help ensure that charging speed is the same when using any compatible charger for devices across the UK.

• What costs would there be for these businesses?
• What benefits would there be for these businesses?
• Are there any implications for innovation?
• Are there any product safety implications for this approach, or wider issues?

Q4: Issues and practicalities of the customer being able to choose to buy a product without a charger

The Government is considering whether it should introduce a requirement that consumers will be able to purchase a new electrical/electronic device without a new charger across the UK, aiming to limit the number of chargers on the market or left unused, reduce production and disposal of new chargers, and reduce electrical/electronic waste.

• What practicalities might this involve for manufacturers, importers and distributors?
• What costs would there be for these businesses?
• What benefits would there be for these businesses?
• What implications would there be for consumer choice and prices?
• Are there any product safety implications for this approach, or wider issues?

Q5: Issues and practicalities of visual labelling (a pictogram) and additional product information requirements

The Government is considering whether it should introduce, across the UK, a requirement on producers to provide relevant visual and written information about charging characteristics, including information on the power the device requires and whether it supports fast charging. This would include the use of a pictogram to indicate whether or not a charging device is included with the product. The aim of this requirement would be to help consumers understand if their existing chargers meet their new device’s requirements and help them select a compatible charger.

• What practicalities might this involve for manufacturers, importers and distributors?
• What costs would there be for these businesses?
• What benefits would there be for these businesses?
• Are there any product safety implications for this approach, or wider issues?

Q6: Would similar measures in GB benefit consumer convenience and reduce electrical/electronic waste?

The Government is considering whether it should introduce common charger measures across the UK to increase consumer convenience and reduce electronic waste. The EU has cited ^{[footnote 1]} the main benefits of its Common Charger Directive requirements as increasing consumer convenience and reducing electrical/electronic waste, with €2.4 billion spent yearly by consumers in the EU on standalone chargers and 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste generated annually from disposed and unused chargers.

• Would similar measures in GB benefit consumers and reduce electronic waste?
• What costs would there be for businesses and consumers?
• What benefits would there be for businesses and consumers?

How to respond

Please indicate which sector you are from or work in (for example manufacturer, distributor, or manufacturer, consumer etc).

• Respond online: through the linked survey
• Email: commonchargercfe@businessandtrade.gov.uk

The Call for Evidence will close at 11:59pm on 4 December 2024.

1. A common charger for electronic devices – factsheet, European Commission, June 2022; and European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Impact assessment study on common chargers of portable devices, Publications Office of the European Union, 2020. ↩