The European Commission has revised its battery regulations to exempt devices such as the Apple Watch from requirements that batteries be removable and replaceable by users. Here are the details.
Apple Watch and other wearables gain exemption from EU battery rules
As spotted by Politico, the European Union has relaxed battery rules for certain wearable devices after U.S. officials criticized restrictions on products such as Meta’s smart glasses.
Under the bloc’s Batteries Regulation, portable batteries built into products must generally be removable and replaceable by users throughout the device’s lifetime.
The European Commission has now adopted an exemption covering certain wearable devices whose safety, durability, or water resistance could be compromised by user access to the battery, including devices that are too small for safe battery replacement or rely on compact, sealed enclosures.
