The European Commission has announced exemptions to its battery regulation, allowing certain categories of electronics, including wearables like smartwatches, to avoid the requirement for user-replaceable batteries. Under the regulation, which was adopted as part of the European Green Deal in 2023, the requirement for replaceable batteries will take effect in 2027. This development follows Nintendo’s announcement of a new version of the Switch 2 featuring a user-replaceable battery.
The Commission’s draft exemptions now include wearable devices, certain medical devices, electronic toys, portable thermometers, roof-mounted telematics devices, and products designed for use in “explosive atmospheres.” Specifically, wearables are defined to encompass “smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, and other electronic devices integrated into clothing and accessories.” Although exempt from needing user-replaceable batteries, many of these devices will still require repairability by a trained professional.
Devices such as Apple’s AirPods may qualify for the exemption as “wearable devices for which the safety, durability, or water resistance may be compromised by user access to the battery.” Meanwhile, smartphones remain subject to the battery regulation, but the current rules stipulate that battery repairs must avoid unnecessary complexity, allowing for options like Apple’s Self Service Repair program, provided they do not compromise safety.
The draft exemptions, once adopted, will be submitted to the EU Parliament and the Council of the EU for further review. If no objections are raised, they will come into effect 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
This regulatory framework aims to promote a greener, circular economy by extending product life and reducing post-consumer waste. The Commission previously asserted that the requirement for replaceable batteries would facilitate the reuse of products and help mitigate environmental impacts. In the United States, attempts to establish similar right-to-repair laws have faced various challenges, with some states enacting their own legislation while broader federal efforts have stalled.
