On August 31st, 2023, the European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union two new regulations that aim to improve the energy efficiency and ecodesign of smartphones, mobile phones and tablets. The regulations, which will enter into force on June 20, 2025, apply to all products placed on the EU market.
In addition to the energy efficiency and ecodesign requirements, the regulations also include provisions for market surveillance. This means that Member States will be responsible for ensuring that products comply with the regulations.
Energy Efficiency Labelling
The first regulation, (EU) 2023/1669, amends the Energy Labelling Framework to include smartphones and tablets. The new regulation will require manufacturers to display an energy label on these products, which will show their energy efficiency class. The energy efficiency classes will be based on an energy efficiency index (EEI), which takes into account the power consumption of the product in different usage scenarios.
The regulation also requires manufacturers to provide information on the repairability of their products. This information will be included in a product information sheet, which will be accessible to consumers online.
According to the Commission publications, Energy labelling enables customers to make informed choices based on the energy consumption of energy-related products. The objective is to expand framework set by the Regulation 2017/1369 (Energy Labelling Framework, former 2010/30/EU) to products such as Smartphones and Tablets, by having an appropriate legal instrument that imposes clear and detailed rules, such as:
- Obligations of suppliers
- Obligations of dealers
- Measurement methods
- Energy efficiency classes, based on Energy Efficiency Index (EEI)
- Label for smartphones and slate tablets, format and required information
- Measurement and calculation methods, including device settings, test sequence and a section for method for the calculation of the repairability index
- Product information sheet – with the information that suppliers must enter into a centralized database
- Technical documentation that must be included with the product
- Information to be in visual advertisements, in technical promotional material and in distance selling or distance selling on the internet
Ecodesign Requirements (2023/1670)
The second regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, lays down ecodesign requirements for smartphones, mobile phones and tablets.
Considering that the Directive 2009/125/EC regulates the market for energy-related products and that these products are accountable for the consumption of natural resources and energy in the Community, while having other important environmental impacts, this new EU Regulation sets the basis to avoid devices to be replaced prematurely by users and that at the end of their useful life become sufficiently reused or recycled, avoiding a waste of resources. Navigating through the publications, we may find:
- Compilation of Ecodesign requirements, ranging from availability of spare parts, Access to repair, maintenance information, disassembly requirements, design for reliability and recyclability requirements.
- Information requirements for suppliers (what needs to be informed to the consumers), such as: compatibility with memory cards and charging cables, used quantities of raw materials and recycled materials, recyclability rate, ingress protection, battery endurance and other warnings related to malfunctioning and maintenance.
- Measurements, calculations, and test items for the verification of the requirements
- Benchmarks for the best available technologies
The regulations are planned to enter into force by June 20th, 2025 for all the Member States, and they are expected to be constantly updated with the development of the state-of-the-art of the technology and new verification methods.
Type Approval Impacted? Yes
Spectrum Impacted? No
Imports Impacted? Yes
Standards: No
Product Impacted: Smartphones, Slate Tablets, Cordless Phones, Feature Phones