Call for evidence outcome

Government response to the common charger call for evidence

Updated 15 October 2026

Background

The Government published a Call for Evidence on 9 October 2024, seeking views on the potential introduction of standardised requirements for chargers across the UK. The Call for Evidence ran for 8 weeks. This followed the introduction of the European Union’s ‘Common Charger Directive’ (Directive (EU) 2022/2380), amending the EU’s Radio Equipment Directive (Directive 2014/53/EU), which mandates ‘common charging’ requirements for a range of portable electrical equipment, including that USB-C is the common charging port.

The Directive was introduced into Northern Ireland on 28 December 2024, read the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024, under the terms of the Windsor Framework Agreement. The Call for Evidence has therefore helped to inform the Government’s decision on whether to introduce the same requirements into Great Britain (GB), develop bespoke regulations, or continue with the current approach of having no specific common charger regulations.

Common charger directive

The main elements of the Common Charger Directive are as follows: 

• Simplified charging with USB-C the common charging port, meaning that one charger will work for multiple devices;

• Standardised fast-charging technology, so that charging speed is the same when using any compatible charger for a device;

• ‘Unbundling’ the sale of a charger, giving consumers 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. 

Since 28 December 2024, the Directive in the EU and regulations in Northern Ireland have applied to the following categories of radio equipment placed on the market, which are capable of being charged by wired charging:

• mobile phones;
• tablets;
• digital cameras;
• headphones and headsets;
• handheld video game consoles;
• portable speakers;
• e-readers;
• keyboards and mice;
• portable navigation systems, and;
• Earbuds.

The Directive and regulations have applied to laptops placed on the market since 28 April 2026.

The Call for Evidence sought views from a range of stakeholders on the potential impact of introducing similar regulations across the whole of the UK, such as manufacturers, retailers, trade associations, and consumers. We were interested in views on the potential impact of introducing GB regulations in line with the EU Directive, including costs and benefits to businesses and consumers, environmental impact, and practicalities to consider were they implemented. The Call for Evidence also sought views on whether regulations, if introduced, should be based on a USB-C charger, as in the EU, or different.

Overview of responses

The Call for Evidence ran from 9 October to 4 December 2024, with 104 responses received which answered at least one of the questions. These responses came from a wide range of interested parties, including 6 consumer groups, 9 manufacturers, 6 charities, 6 retailers, and 46 consumers/ members of the public, as well as a number of responses that identified as more than 1 of these categories. We also received responses from 2 major trade associations, representing around 1,500 individual businesses and industry bodies. There were 94 responses which provided no answer to any questions.

Overall, 86% of respondents said that if regulations were to be introduced in GB, it was important to have measures aligned to the EU and Northern Ireland to avoid costs of unnecessary divergence. Similar measures in GB would reduce manufacturing and distribution costs for industry, provide environmental benefits through reducing electronic waste, and consumer benefits by ensuring one charger will work for multiple devices. 

35% of respondents said that introducing regulations in GB was unnecessary, because USB-C has effectively become the industry default; one estimate suggested at least 90% products on the market will have this by 2030, if not more. These respondents commented that there was therefore no need to put additional regulations in place for something that industry is already choosing to do. Others were against any regulations as they believe it could stifle innovation, for example in wired charging.

Concerns were raised about the detrimental impact on the refurbished technology market if regulations were introduced that mandated USB-C, which could also lead to higher costs for consumers. 8 respondents also noted concerns about a potential rise in the number of unsafe chargers being purchased, if chargers are no longer supplied by default by the manufacturer. 

Whether regulations were introduced or not, a number of respondents raised the importance of providing consumers with information on safe usage, charging, storage, and disposal practices for electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries, as well as the dangers of incorrect use and disposal.

Key issues raised in the Call for Evidence

Support for continued CE recognition and measures in line with EU Directive

Nearly all respondents were supportive of measures in GB that achieved the same aims as the EU’s Common Charger Directive, whether through regulation or leaving the market to move in that direction, as it is currently doing. Most of these responses noted trade benefits, with businesses able to continue unfettered trade across the internal UK market and with the EU, with a number of responses specifically stated that continuing CE recognition for products placed on the GB market was key to enabling this.

Many responses in favour of similar measures cited environmental benefits from reducing the amount of waste created by unnecessary chargers, as well as consumer benefits created through enabling one charger to work for multiple devices and potential cost savings.

37 respondents were not in favour of any regulations, though 23 noted whilst they were not supportive, if regulations were to be introduced, they should follow exactly the measures that apply in the EU and Northern Ireland. Respondents not in favour of regulations set out various reasons, including:

• Industry is already moving towards USB-C by default, to support trading in other markets and avoid supply chain complexities, so regulations are unnecessary, particularly as CE recognition supports trade in GB;
• Regulations could add unnecessary administrative costs to businesses, including on labelling and packaging requirements, particularly impacting SMEs;
• Regulations could stifle innovation in a fast-changing sector, potentially hindering the ability to come up with better options in the future.

Only 1 response suggested implementing GB-specific regulations, with most other responses stating that creating bespoke measures would result in additional trade barriers and costs for businesses, as well as potentially higher costs for consumers.

Practicalities of regulating a common charger based on USB-C 

There was wide-ranging support for a USB-C common charger, with responses noting that this is already the industry standard and alignment would be useful, rather than GB introducing an alternative approach. A few responses raised concerns that specifying a single form of charger may create additional administrative and regulatory burdens, including if GB regulations need to be updated regularly as the EU updates their regulations, or risk passive divergence. Concerns were also raised that regulations could stifle innovation, for example in the development of wireless charging technology.

Some responses supported USB-C for its technical benefits, including its universal design, cost-effectiveness, as well as its capability to be used across many devices with many differing levels of power input requirements.  

There was significant concern raised about the impact the Directive could have on the refurbished market, with responses noting that requiring all products to have a USB-C charger could significantly reduce the number of second-hand products that could be placed on the market. This was seen as potentially leading to higher prices for consumers, as well as increasing negative environmental impact through otherwise usable products no longer being able to be sold and reused.

Issues and practicalities of harmonised fast charging

Some respondents supported measures for fast charging, noting it would create consumer convenience. Responses stated that proposals should be aligned with existing industry standards for fast-charging requirements, rather than requiring new standards.

Some respondents also expressed concerns about fast charging leading to the faster degradation of device battery life, and the potential fire risk, with a substantial minority of respondents emphasising the importance of clear safety information for consumers about batteries and required charging settings.  

“Unbundling”- choice to buy products without a charger 

Just under 75% of respondents were supportive of giving consumers the choice of “unbundling” and purchasing a new product without a charger, supporting a reduction in electronic waste and aiding consumer convenience. There were some responses which raised concerns this could lead to a rise in unsafe and non-compliant chargers, potentially heightening the risk of electric shock because of incompatible voltage ratings or accessible live or compromised parts. To mitigate this, it was suggested that clear communication would be needed to provide consumers with information on safe use and storage of chargers, how to safely dispose of electrical equipment, and encouraging purchases to be made from recognised retailers.  

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

Around a quarter of responses supported the use of additional visual and written information about charging characteristics of devices, whether in line with the EU directive or GB-specific. Some concerns were raised about the possible confusion and added cost to businesses if the UK were to use a different charger symbol to reflect the UK’s 3-pin plug format. 

Next steps

Based on the responses received to the Call for Evidence, and subsequent engagement with key industry stakeholders since the new regulations came into effect in the EU and Northern Ireland, the Government has decided that it is not necessary to introduce similar regulations in GB. This is for a number of reasons:

• It is clear from responses to the Call for Evidence and subsequent engagement with businesses that industry is already moving in the direction of using USB-C by default, in the main to support trade and meet consumer demand, and introducing regulations could add unnecessary costs to businesses;
• In support of the Government’s mission to unlock economic growth, we also note the view that introducing regulations now could stifle innovation, at a time of fast-paced technological change;
• We also do not want regulations to lead to an enforced but unnecessary shrinking of the refurbished technology sector, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers across the UK and having a negative impact on the environment;
• Maintaining CE recognition of products placed on the GB market will continue to support businesses trade, both within the internal UK market and with the EU and other global markets.

We will keep under review changes in the sector and any further regulations introduced by the EU, and consider updating our regulatory position should it be necessary in the future. However, we consider this the right approach on this specific issue to avoid unnecessary regulation on businesses, whilst continuing to support trade and providing consumers with affordable choices.