UK not “currently considering” EU’s USB-C charger mandate
The UK government has said that it will not force electronics manufacturers to use USB Type-C connections after the EU set out strict new rules for a common charging cable.
The EU has announced that a USB Type-C charger must be used for all “small and medium-sized portable electronics” from late 2024, stating that this move that will reduce e-waste and benefit consumers.
However, after the UK’s exit from the EU, it no longer has to follow decisions made by the continental bloc.
The government confirmed that it was “not currently considering replicating this requirement”.
The decision by the EU is a blow for Apple as it currently uses a proprietary Lightning cable to charge iPhones and iPads.
The tech giant will now have to comply with the new regulations to sell devices in Europe.
While the UK has opted against introducing the same legislation, it will be applicable in Northern Ireland due to the current post-Brexit arrangements.
A report by Parliament released last year noted that these arrangements could lead to a “divergence of product standards” in Northern Ireland.
The agreement on a common charging cable has been provisionally agreed upon and is set to be formally approved by the European Parliament later this year.
While the move is good news for consumers, Apple and other critics believe that it could stifle innovation.
The regulation will see mobile phones and tablets, as well as headphones, portable speakers and handheld gaming devices such as the Nintendo Switch, feature a USB-C port.
Laptops will also have one, though manufacturers of larger devices will have two more years to comply with the proposed changes.