Smartphone Makers told by EU Parliament to Let Consumers Replace Their Batteries

(Photo : PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images)
Smartphone makers have until 2027 to equip devices with easy-open rear panels.

The European Parliament recently passed a revision to a pre-existing law requiring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other tech companies to design "portable batteries in appliances in such a way that consumers can easily remove and replace them."

Android phone owners can previously replace their old batteries by easily popping open the back of their phone and replacing it with a fresh new one. However, most modern phones arrive entirely sealed, which means effort might be required to repair devices.

With the approval of the legislative amendments, users would not need to source a tool kit from a company in order to pry open their phone to replace the battery, such as Samsung's self-repair kit.

The amendments to the law would mean Apple and Android OEMs in Europe would need to implement the creation of easily removable rear panels on their smartphones. The amendment also called for a ban on the use of adhesives.

With the recent approval of new rules also comes stricter waste collection for portable and LTM batteries, as well as the redesign and production of devices.

The region looks to increase the amount of waste collected from lithium batteries, cobalt, lead, and nickel by 43% in 2023 and 63% by 2027. The Parliament also hopes to increase the amount of recycled content for lithium to 6% and for lead to 85% within eight years upon the law's implementation.

With the law passed in Parliament, it would now have to wait for the Council to endorse the new rules and submit them to the European Union Official Journal before taking effect. Once the law was published, OEMs had "three and a half years after the entry into force of the legislation to make the change." This meant manufacturers had until 2027 to modify their production lines.

Late last year, the EU Parliament voted in favor of making USB-C the mandatory charging port for many portable devices. While Android phones can easily adapt to the rules, Apple has to modify its European models to accommodate a USB-C port before the law becomes effective by the end of 2024.