EU Officials Push for Standard Device Charger for Region

The European Union is a step closer to enforcing a new law requiring a standard charger for tablets, laptops, and smartphones that are sold in the region. 

This poses a blow to the huge smart technology giant, Apple. 

Currently, Apple’s devices use three types of chargers, ranging from USB-C, micro-USB, and even lightning cables. 

The members of the EU see the standardization of charging cables as a way to lessen environmental pollution and minimize waste. 

The EU has stated that an estimated €2.4B or around $2.8B per year is spent on chargers bought separately by European consumers. 

The European Union has a population of over 450 million and is home to the world’s affluent shoppers. 

The proposed law can have an impact on markets outside of Europe. 

This new measure will provide consumers a chance to say no to getting a new charging cable when buying a new device. 

On the other hand, Apple is not so welcoming of this new rule. They assert that the proposed law is unwarranted and would curb innovation. 

Apple states that “The proposal is vastly disproportionate to any perceived problem,” the company said in its response to the commission when the law was being drafted.

Maltese MEP Mr. Alex Saliba was the leading figure in the European Parliament negotiations and said “If Apple … or anyone wants to market their product, sell their products within our internal market, they have to abide by our rules and their device has to be USB-C,”.

Under this proposed law, portable devices will be obligated to have a USB-C port type by late 2024.

Source: ABS-CBN