Exclusive Insight｜ Key Compliance Points for EU Ecodesign of Batteries in Mobile Phones & Tablets
To address the growing e-waste crisis and advance the circular economy, the EU has introduced ecodesign requirements for mobile phones and tablets. Mandatory since June 20, 2025, these regulations aim to enhance product durability, reparability, and environmental performance from the design stage, extending device lifespans and reducing resource waste.
Scope
Smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones, and slate tablets
Exempted Products
Mobile phones and tablets with a flexible main displays which the user can unroll and roll up partly or fully
Smartphones for high security communication
Smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones, and tablets used in potentially explosive atmospheres and compliant with the ATEX Directive
Battery Requirements
The regulation imposes two key technical requirements on batteries:
Cycle Life
To ensure long-term durability, batteries must meet the minimum cycle life requirement.
|
Product |
Cycle Life Requirement |
|
Mobile Phone |
500 cycles@80% |
|
Tablet |
800 cycles@80% |
|
Smartphone |
800 cycles@80% |
|
Cordless Phone |
/ |
Reparability
Batteries shall be designed to be removed and replaced by non-professionals without tools or using included/basic tools. If product design prevents meeting this requirement, the following exemption conditions must be satisfied, ensuring at least professional personnel can perform disassembly and repair.
|
Product |
Exemption Conditions |
|
Mobile Phone |
500 cycles@83% 1000 cycles@80% IP67 |
|
Tablet |
500 cycles@83% 1000 cycles@80% IP42 |
|
Smartphone |
500 cycles@83% 1000 cycles@80% IP67 |
|
Cordless Phone |
/ |
MCM Reminder
In addition to ecodesign regulations, the in-scope batteries must also comply with the requirements of the EU Battery Regulation EU 2023/1542, including but not limited to chemical substance restrictions, labeling, and waste battery management.
Ecodesign regulations for laptops are still under development. This trend indicates that a broader range of electronic products categories will be subject to regulation in the future, reflecting the EU’s ongoing commitment to advancing its green transition.
With solid expertise in regulatory interpretation and compliance services, MCM tracks EU regulatory updates closely. For products targeting the EU market, it is recommended to conduct compliance gap analysis and confirm testing approach in advance to mitigate the risk of subsequent corrective actions.
For further details on relevant technical requirements or compliance, please feel free to contact us anytime!