• New legislation is intended to make electronic gadgets more sustainable and reduce electronic waste
• Brussels has been pushing for a single mobile charging port for more than a decade
The European Union on Tuesday agreed to a single standardized charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras, which will force smartphone makers like Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) and other electronics makers to equip their devices with a standard USB-C charging port.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said equipment manufacturers will have to comply with the new terms by 2024.
“We have a deal on the #CommonCharger!” EU commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted.
For more than a decade, the bloc has been pushing for a single mobile charging port.
The legislation is an amendment to the Radio Equipment Directive, which establishes a single charging solution and makes electronic gadgets more sustainable, reduces electronic waste, and makes consumers’ lives easier.
It could significantly impact Apple, as the company still uses its proprietary Lightning connector to charge iPhones.
Last September, a spokesperson for Apple said that the firm stands for “innovation and deeply cares about the customer experience.”
“We share the European Commission’s commitment to protecting the environment and are already carbon neutral for all of our corporate emissions worldwide,” they said.
“We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world. We look forward to continued engagement with stakeholders to help find a solution that protects consumer interest, as well as the industry’s ability to innovate and bring exciting new technology to users.”
Picture Credits: Reuters
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