EU Proposal Would Mandate USB-C as Common Device Charging Port

The EU has returned to a proposal that would make USB-C the common standard port for charging all smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers and video game consoles. Member states agreed on a negotiating mandate for the common charger proposal, said the European Council Wednesday. A proposal for a common charger was tabled by the European Commission in September.

Wednesday's mandate was approved by ambassadors in the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee, which allows the Council presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament once the parliament agrees on its position.

The goal of the draft legislation is to ensure consumers don’t have to buy a new charger with every purchase of a mobile phone or “similar item” and that all devices can use the same charger, the Council said. The proposal will improve consumer convenience by “harmonising charging interfaces and fast charging technology,” it said.

Under the proposed law, the sale of chargers would be unbundled from the sale of devices. A new charger “will not necessarily be included when buying a new device,” which will have the environmental benefit of "reducing electronic waste associated with the production, transportation and disposal of chargers.”

The European Commission proposed the USB type-C specification in its proposal, “and the Council did not change this in its position,” a Council spokesperson emailed Wednesday. Under the proposal, device makers will have to provide information to consumers about charging performance, including information on the power required by the device and whether it supports fast charging. The Council added an annex with text that clarifies technical specifications for a common charger.

That product information, a pictogram, is designed to make it easier for consumers to see if their existing chargers meet the requirements of their new device or help them select a compatible charger. The combined measures would limit the number of new chargers consumers have to buy, saving them an estimated $282 million annually on unnecessary charger purchases, the Commission, said.

The proposal addressed the need to provide a basis for adaptation to future technology advances via a “harmonisation of the charging interfaces and the charging communication protocols with respect to radio equipment that may be charged via any means other than wired charging.” It gave RF-based wireless charging as an example. “Such harmonisation should reduce environmental waste, ensure consumer convenience and avoid fragmentation of the market among different charging interfaces and charging communication protocols.”

Future chargers solutions could have negative impacts on interoperability, consumer convenience and the environment, the proposal said: The Commission “should be able to take action towards harmonising them in the future, if fragmentation on the internal market is observed.”

Apple began decoupling chargers from the iPhone in the 13 series last fall. But it has continued to use the proprietary lightning port vs. the USB-C connector that’s nearly universal among phone makers. Apple didn’t comment on the proposal Wednesday.