France will have waited until the last day to, in a decree published on December 28, transpose into French law the European directive of November 23, 2022 known as the “universal charger”. Electronic equipment manufacturers now have one year to integrate a USB Type-C port on their charging stands to make them universal.
From December 28, 2024, twelve types of devices can be recharged by a single type of charger. In this list, we find: mobile phones and smartphones, tablets, cameras, headsets and earphones; gaming consoles, speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems (GPS).
April 2026 for laptops
Laptop manufacturers benefit from additional time, with a deadline set for April 26, 2026. Some manufacturers have already brought forward the call. Starting with Apple which, for the launch of the iPhone 15 in September, abandoned its proprietary Lightning port in favor of USB-C.
Manufacturers will also have to offer consumers a separate sale of the device and the charger and clearly indicate whether it is included or not using a pictogram affixed to the packaging. The system will, in fact, limit the purchase of unwanted chargers and the number of chargers left unused.
Reduce carbon footprint
The objective of this European directive is twofold. This is, of course, to reduce the environmental footprint due to CO2 emissions generated by the extraction of raw materials, production, transport, sale and disposal of this type of accessory. According to the European Commission, unused and discarded chargers represent 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste each year on the Old Continent.
It is also about reconciling the end of the world and the end of the month by restoring purchasing power to consumers. The system should save them 250 million euros each year. Furthermore, this universal charger will put an end to the headache of incompatible charging supports. Still according to the Commission, 38% of European citizens surveyed have been unable, at least once in their consumer life, to recharge their mobile phone due to incompatible chargers.
Guaranteed charging speed
The icing on the cake is that with this universal support, European consumers will benefit from a guaranteed charging speed without certain manufacturers limiting or restricting it in an unjustified manner. The latter must, moreover, provide “relevant information on charging performance, including information on the power required by the device and whether the device supports fast charging. »
Thus illuminated, the user will be able to see more easily if the charger they own meets the requirements of a new device or if they need to purchase a compatible charger. During the public consultation that the government organized this summer, 117 observations were made by professionals and individuals. The majority of contributors welcome the positive impact of this European regulation on ecological, practical and economic levels.
However, some participants fear that the decoupled sale of electronic equipment and chargers will encourage manufacturers to increase the purchase price. Others wonder whether such regulation could be a brake on technological innovation. It is the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) which will be responsible for controlling the entry into force of this universal charger and avoiding any deviation.