EU universal charger regulations are implemented.

BRUSSELS: In a move that Brussels claims will reduce expenses and waste, EU regulations mandating that all new smartphones, tablets, and cameras use the same charger went into effect on Saturday.

Gadgets sold in the 27-nation bloc must now have a USB-C connector installed by manufacturers, as this port was selected by the European Union as the single standard for charging electronic gadgets.

“A USB Type-C charging port will be required for all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards, and many other electronics sold in the EU as of today,” the EU Parliament posted on social site X

According to the EU, the single charger rule will lower consumer costs and make life easier for Europeans. According to the bloc, enabling customers to buy a new gadget without a new charger will also help to lessen the abundance of outdated charges. In 2022, after a battle with US tech giant Apple, the law was first adopted. It gave businesses till December 28 of this year to adjust.

Beginning in early 2026, laptop manufacturers will have more time to do the same. These wires are already used by the majority of gadgets, but Apple remained hesitant.

Although the company said in 2021 that this kind of legislation “stifles innovation,” it had started shipping phones using the new port by September of last year.

In a voluntary agreement with the European Commission ten years ago, European manufacturers of electronic consumer goods decided on a single charging standard out of dozens that were available on the market. However, Apple, the largest smartphone vendor in the world, disregarded it and stopped using Lightning connections.

The regulation was predicted to save more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic trash annually and save at least 200 million euros ($208 million) annually, according to the commission when it was approved. “THE charger is overdue,” the European Commission posted on X.