Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

CTOnews.com, October 4 (Xinhua)-- the European Parliament today overwhelmingly supported the mandatory use of USB-C as a universal charging port for a variety of consumer electronics devices, including iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024.

According to the new regulations, starting in the autumn of 2024, the USB type-C will become the standard charging port for smartphones, tablets, e-readers, keyboards, computer mice, GPS devices, digital cameras, headphones, handheld video game consoles and portable speakers sold in the European Union. Starting from 2026, USB-C will also become a standard interface for laptop chargers. This means that Apple's devices also need to use the USB-C charging interface.

CTOnews.com learned that the law was passed by an overwhelming majority: 602 for, 13 against, and 8 abstentions.

Alex Agis Salibe, a Maltese MP from the centre-left Socialist Party and the Democratic Party, said: "this simple solution will save thousands of tons of e-waste each year." promote the reuse of old electronic products, [improve] the convenience of consumers, and reduce unnecessary costs. " He hoped that the EU's move would set an example for the rest of the world.

Margrethe Vestager, executive vice chairman of the committee, said the single-interface charger is not only good for the environment, but also good for consumers, which means saving at least 250 million euros a year.

According to the European Commission, chargers produce 11000 to 13000 tons of e-waste a year, and the new rules are expected to significantly reduce that amount. However, this is only a small part of the ocean of e-waste. The European Union collected 4.5 million tons of e-waste in 2019.

Smartphone makers have resisted EU efforts to standardize charging technology for years. A decade ago, the industry reached an agreement with the committee to gradually reduce the number of different charging technologies. This has produced some progress, but Parliament still believes that it is not enough, and in 2020, Parliament redoubled its appeal to the Committee to make legislative proposals to regulate the issue.

After the regulation comes into effect, the committee will also regulate and standardize wireless charging technology within two years.

CTOnews.com learned that three EU agencies agreed on the details of the common charger directive in June. According to a spokesman for the European Council, EU governments are expected to give final approval at the meeting of the Environmental Council on October 24. After that, the legislation will enter into force. EU countries will have six months to incorporate it into their own laws.

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.