How the new 2024-25 EU legislation on batteries and chargers will affect you

Find out more about the EU Common Charger Directive and the EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation.

Overview

The EU Common Charger Directive and the EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation apply to European Union (EU) countries and Northern Ireland. To prevent restrictions on your listings, ensure you comply with both regulations for new and used products.

EU Common Charger Directive

The EU Common Charger Directive aims at harmonising charging interfaces and capabilities for a range of portable electronic devices. This allows consumers to charge their electronic devices with any USB-C cable regardless of the respective device brand.

Additionally, consumers should have the option to buy electronic devices without a charger. This directive aims to decrease the number of chargers purchased, ultimately reducing electronic waste and unnecessary costs.

To ensure consumers can make informed choices, manufacturers and business sellers are also required to provide additional information through a new pictogram and label:

  • Pictogram: indicates if a charger is included with the product or not
  • Label: indicates the charging capability of the product, and if it is USB-PD (Power Delivery) compatible.

Starting from 28 December, the pictogram and label must be included on the packaging of any product that is offered or sold on the EU and Northern Ireland markets for the first time, and displayed on your eBay listings.

Who and what is subject to this directive

This directive is relevant to you if, starting 28 December 2024, you're a business seller and offer or sell for the first time in the EU and Northern Ireland markets any of these product types:

  • handheld mobile phones
  • tablets
  • digital cameras
  • headphones
  • headsets
  • handheld videogame consoles
  • portable speakers
  • e-readers
  • keyboards
  • mice
  • portable navigation systems
  • earbuds (including their dedicated charging case or box)

Starting 28 April 2026, laptops (i.e. any portable computers, including laptops, notebooks, ultraportables, hybrids or convertibles and netbooks) will be subject to the same requirements.

Note: The directive mostly applies to new products, however it is also applicable to used products, if they are first placed in the EU and Northern Ireland markets after 28 December 2024.

What you need to do

Starting 28 December 2024: If your products fall under the EU Common Charger Directive, you should adhere to the new requirements. This includes giving buyers the choice to purchase products without chargers and ensuring that only products with a USB-C port are placed in the EU and Northern Ireland market after this date.

Required attributes for new listings: if your products are covered by the directive, you’ll also need to include the following attributes in your new listings:

  • “Features”: In this section, please specify if a charger is included, or not, with your product and indicate if the product is USB-PD compatible. Note: In this case, “charger” refers only to the power adapter, not the charging cable.
  • “Charging Power Range”: Here you’ll be able to add the power range (in watts) that is required to charge the product (you’ll have to include your input in this format “7.5-27”, without any space).

    You’ll find the above information on your product package. Alternatively, you should ask your supplier for this information. (Please note that all products placed on the EU and Northern Ireland markets after 28 December 2024 should have this information on the package and in the instructions document).

    As an example, if you see this on the package (refer to the diagram on the left), you should add the following attributes:

    - Features: charger not included, USB-PD compatible
    - Charging Power Range: 7.5-27
Diagram of attributes
  • Pictograms and labels: Our team is creating the pictograms and labels that will be associated with these new attributes and displayed on your listing page. We plan to roll them out across different categories starting at the end of December.

    Please note: The new attributes will be accessible in all listing flows starting in early December. You can provide the information ahead of time. Additionally, if you wish to display the pictogram and label before our solution is active, you can add these elements to the Photo & Video section of your listings. Download a template for the pictogram and label here.

Starting 28 December, all new listings covered by the Common Charger Directive should comply with the updated standards. Listings that do not meet these standards may be put on hold.

If you want to learn more, here you can find out more information about the EU Common Charger Directive.

EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation

The EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation aims to improve the environmental impact, safety, labelling, collection and treatment of batteries sold in the EU and Northern Ireland.

Who and what is subject to this regulation?

This regulation applies to you if, after 18 August 2024, you're a business seller and offer or sell for the first time in the EU and Northern Ireland markets any of these product types:

  • new or used batteries
  • new or used products containing batteries (i.e. requirements exist for all batteries, including those that are contained in offered products, such as vehicles, watches and electronic toys).

Additional requirements apply to you if you are also a producer, manufacturer, or importer of batteries or of products including batteries.

What you need to do

  • Starting 18 August 2024, business sellers who offer products covered by the regulation to European buyers must comply with specific sustainability, safety, labelling, and information requirements. This applies to all batteries placed on the EU and Northern Ireland market after 18 August 2024. You can find more information here on the site of the European Council.
  • If you’re also a producer, manufacturer, or importer you’ll also need to obtain your EPR registration number for batteries. In the coming months, we’ll provide a solution for you to upload your registration number on eBay. To ensure compliance, you must do so by the regulatory deadline of 18 August 2025. You can register directly with the responsible authorities of each EU member state,* or you can find support from our partner Interzero.

If you want to learn more, here you can find out more information about the EU Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation. 



This information provides an overview of the new EU regulations on batteries and common chargers. Please consider that additional requirements may apply to your listings, based on local laws. Sellers are encouraged to stay informed and, if needed, consult a legal advisor to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

Please note that the EU Common Charger Directive requires national implementation, so specific local requirements may vary. We’re here to help answer questions about listing and selling on eBay; for specific legal advice, please consult a professional.


*This list will be updated as we confirm information for additional EU member states