As reported by the EU Parliament, MEPs approved by 587 votes to 9 with 20 abstentions an agreement reached with the Council to revise EU rules on batteries and waste batteries (new EU Battery Regulation 2023; take-e-way had provided comprehensive information in 2022). The new directive adoption takes into account technological developments and future challenges in the sector and will cover the entire life cycle of batteries, from design to end of life.
EU Battery Regulation summary; key measures; timeline:
- A mandatory carbon footprint declaration and labelling for traction batteries, batteries for light transport vehicles such as electric scooters and bicycles and rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh;
- Equipment batteries must be designed in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them themselves;
- A digital battery passport for traction batteries, light transport batteries and industrial batteries with a capacity of more than 2 kWh;
- A due diligence strategy for all operators except SMEs;
- Stricter targets for the collection of spent batteries: for equipment batteries - 45% by 2023, 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030; for light transport batteries - 51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031;
- Minimum quantities of materials recovered from spent batteries: Lithium - 50% by 2027 and 80% by 2031; cobalt, copper, lead and nickel - 90% by 2027 and 95% by 2031;
- Minimum content of recovered ingredients from battery production waste and consumer waste for use in new batteries: eight years after entry into force of the Regulation: 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel; 13 years after entry into force: 26% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 12% for lithium and 15% for nickel.
After the final vote in the plenary session, the Council must now formally approve the directive before it is published in the EU’s Official Journal shortly afterwards and entry into force.
Background:
In December 2020, the Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on batteries and waste batteries (new EU Batteries Regulation). The proposal aims to reinforce the functioning of the internal market, promote the circular economy and reduce the environmental and social impacts at all stages of the life cycle of batteries. The initiative is closely linked to the European Green Deal, the Action Plan for the Circular Economy and the new Industrial Strategy.
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Please call +49/40/750687-0 or send an e-mail to beratung@take-e-way.de for any questions you may have on the current Batteries Act and on the registration of batteries in Europe. The take-e-way consultancy team will be pleased to assist you.
For solutions on the subject of EU product labelling or packaging and, in particular, disposal labelling, the trade-e-bility consulting team is at your disposal via beratung@trade-e-bility.de or +49/40/75068730-0.
Please click below for further information on our international compliance services in connection with placing electronic equipment, batteries/rechargeable cells and packaged products or packaging on the market: https://www.take-e-way.com/international-compliance/
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