European Union politicians voted last week in favor of an update to radio equipment that would establish guidelines for a universal mobile phone charger and enact new standards for radio equipment.
According to EU officials, the new Radio Equipment Directive aims to keep up with the growing number of “radio equipment devices” and ensure they do not interfere with each other by setting common standards. The new directive also includes requirements for the creation of a universal charger for “certain categories of radio equipment” such as mobile phones, in order to simplify use and reduce extraneous electronic waste and costs. The European Commission will reportedly decide which specific types of radio equipment will have to meet this requirement.
“The modernized Radio Equipment Directive is an efficient tool to prevent interference between different radio equipment devices. I am especially pleased that we agreed on the introduction of a common charger. This serves the interests both of consumers and the environment. It will put an end to charger clutter and 51,000 tons of electronic waste annually,” said rapporteur Barbara Weiler (S&D, DE).
The new Radio Equipment Directive also includes provisions that would give authorities “additional market surveillance tools to detect radio equipment products that fail to comply with the new safety rules.”
The draft directive was approved 550 to 12 with eight abstentions, and has already been informally agreed upon by the Council of Ministers, with formal approval expected in the near future. Member states will have two years to adopt the new rules and manufacturers will have an additional year to comply.
