Universal charger for electronic devices would be very welcome - Mayo MEP
The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a Commission proposal to adopt a common charger for electronic devices and amend the current Radio Equipment Directive.
The recommendation, to introduce a single charger for mobile phones and other small electronic devices, received widespread support from across all political groups.
The issue was raised at a Plenary Session in Strasbourg with Midlands-North-West MEP Maria Walsh selected to address parliament on the topic.
Summing up the importance of the motion, she highlighted the relevance of the proposal for the environment, for consumers, and for businesses.
She stated: “Crucially, this proposal underlines the EU’s commitment to sustainability, but as well, it makes sense for businesses and will make everyday life simpler for consumers.
"This is a concrete example of a practical change that every EU citizen can see and appreciate,” she said.
For more than a decade, the European Parliament and its Committee for Internal Market and Consumer Protection have called on the European Commission to act on the matter.
They have sought a proposal for a universal charger for mobile phones and small and medium-sized electronic devices, such as tablets, e-book readers, smart cameras, and wearable electronics.
This vote in Strasbourg, according to MEP Walsh, represents a major milestone in the drive towards this goal.
“The micro-usb charger was a major EU success story and it reduced the number of incompatible chargers in the market from 30 to 3.
"This was essential in reducing electronic waste and making life simpler for consumers. However, the move towards a common charger is still incomplete,” Walsh told the Parliament.
Continuing, she noted that this directive would ensure that USB-C chargers would be the same for all devices – from phones to video game consoles and gadgets – by 2024.
Most importantly, she pointed out, the ruling would be applicable to all manufacturers, including Apple.
"At present, a plethora of charging devices, problems relating to compatibility and poor safety, and the costs of adaptors for proprietary connectors, are just some of the issues facing consumers.
"The embedded product costs for chargers packaged with products, a lack of correct information over which charger to use with which device, and the insufficient durability of chargers, cables and ports, are among the problems too.
"Furthermore, unpredictable charging times, and failed or lost chargers for certain electronic devices, represent unnecessary costs and inconvenience to consumers.
"Beyond consumer inconvenience, however, the problem applies to the EU’s planet and environmental objectives, with half a billion chargers shipped for portable devices in Europe each year.
"Choosing the sustainable solution to have a universal USB Type-C charging port, as proposed by the Commission, will save thousands of tons of electronic waste per year, benefit the environment directly, and further help in the reuse of old electronics.
“This directive underlines the EU’s commitment to sustainability by reducing electronic waste by approximately 11,000 tonnes annually, and is in line with the recommendations of the Conference on the Future of Europe in relation to reducing consumption,” explained MEP Walsh.
During the debate on the topic, there was further support for the suggestion to enlarge the scope of the proposal to include other categories or classes of small and medium-sized portable radio equipment, and to introduce minimum requirements for wireless charging.
In addition, the idea of ensuring effective unbundling of charger sales was backed by MEPs, as too were the proposals to improve consumer information, enhance harmonisation of fast charging technology, strengthen market surveillance provisions, and shorten the period prior to the entry into force of requirements.