EU Battery Law Comes Into Force

According to foreign media reports, after a long legislative process, the EU Batteries Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the EU. The EU battery regulation was announced on July 28, and it will come into effect on the 20th day from the date of publication, and will be implemented on February 18, 2024, and the implementation date of some of the obligations is August 18, 2024.

The EU Battery Regulation aims to promote the sustainability of batteries throughout their life cycle and adds to a growing body of legislation on supply chain compliance. The EU Battery Regulation applies to all types of batteries, including industrial applications and electric vehicle batteries, with requirements covering recycling, labeling, and due diligence.

The EU Battery Regulation replaces the current EU Battery Directive (2006/66/EC). It has three main priorities: strengthening the internal market by developing standardized rules for battery products, processes, waste batteries, and recycling; advancing a circular economy; and reducing the environmental and social impact of batteries throughout their life cycle, with a focus on the supply chain.

The EU Battery Regulation places requirements on economic operators who sell batteries on the EU market or put them into service. This regulation applies to all types of batteries used in the EU, including batteries imported from non-EU countries. This includes batteries used in electric vehicles, light vehicles, industrial applications, spent portable batteries, and SLI batteries. Economic operator means a manufacturer, authorized representative, importer, distributor, fulfillment service provider, or other person or entity involved in the manufacture, preparation, distribution, or disposal of batteries.

In addition to the obligations applicable to all economic operators, Chapter VI of the EU Battery Regulation also imposes certain obligations on manufacturers, importers, and distributors. It is worth noting that the EU battery regulation also expands the responsibility of producers, requiring producers to bear the cost of collecting, processing, and recycling all collected batteries. Producers are also responsible for conducting surveys on mixed municipal waste collections, reporting on batteries and spent batteries, and providing information to end users and waste operators. The EU Battery Regulation also includes provisions for green public procurement of batteries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The EU Battery Regulation takes a consistent position with the European Green Deal, which aims to promote the recycling of batteries throughout their life cycle. The EU battery regulation sets collection targets for portable waste batteries and light vehicle waste batteries, with a medium-term target of 2027 and final targets of 2030 and 2031. EU battery regulations also require the recycling of lithium from spent batteries and set minimum recycled content of lithium, cobalt, lead, and nickel in new batteries. By 2027, portable batteries used in appliances should be removable and replaceable by end users.

The EU Battery Regulation also introduces harmonized rules on safety, sustainability, and labeling requirements. The regulations also restrict the use of hazardous substances such as mercury and cadmium and require disclosure of the carbon footprint of batteries. Labels need to provide information about components, battery life, and recycled content. Additionally, the label will need to provide a digital product passport and a QR code that can be linked to battery composition information.

From August 2025, economic operators placing batteries on the market will need to comply with due diligence requirements, similar to other supply chain legislation. This includes verifying the origin of raw materials used in batteries, identifying internal responsibilities, and third-party verification of battery due diligence policies. Non-compliance by economic operators may be restricted or banned from supplying the market with batteries, subject to specific sanctions by the member state.

EU battery regulations will have an impact on companies in various sectors, especially those involved in aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy storage. The EU Battery Regulation is an important legislative text related to the energy transition, reflecting the growing importance of batteries in this context.

Over the next few years, the EU will also introduce secondary legislative acts providing further clarification and rules on various topics.