Belgium sets date for introduction of universal phone chargers

All mobile phones sold in Belgium must use a common charger from 28 December, according to a bill passed unanimously by the Federal Chamber on Thursday evening.

The legislation, put forward by deputy prime minister and Telecommunications minister Petra De Sutter of Flemish green party Groen, incorporates a corresponding European directive. The European Parliament approved the introduction of a universal charger for smartphones and other small electronic devices in October 2022, with member states given until 26 December 2024 to translate the move into national law.

Belgium approves universal charger legislation

The Belgian federal government on Friday transposed into national law a European directive that will require every mobile phone to have a common...

belganewsagency.eu

When the law comes into force, all smartphones will have to have a USB-C charging port. The move will apply to other devices including digital cameras, earphones, portable speakers, e-readers and tablets. From 2026, universal chargers for laptops will also become mandatory. The move is intended to cut electrical waste, which in the EU amounts to 11,000 tonnes each year.

“This is not only convenient, but by reducing the number of chargers, the waste mountain will be reduced,” De Sutter said.

^{© PHOTO FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP}