EU exempts smartwatches and wearables from 2027 replaceable battery mandate
The European Commission has proposed exemptions to its 2023 Batteries Regulation, allowing manufacturers to keep batteries sealed in smartwatches and other wearable devices.
The European Commission has announced draft exemptions to its 2023 Batteries Regulation, removing the requirement for user-replaceable batteries in wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses by the 2027 deadline. This decision, part of the European Green Deal’s push for a circular economy, cites safety, durability, and water resistance as primary reasons for exempting wearables. While consumers cannot replace these batteries, manufacturers must ensure devices remain repairable by trained professionals.
The exemptions also apply to specific medical devices, electronic toys, portable thermometers, roof-mounted telematics, and equipment for explosive atmospheres. The Commission states that wearables may be exempt because user access to the battery could compromise safety, durability, or water resistance. Smartphones remain subject to the regulation but may have user-replaceable batteries if done without specialized tools and without compromising safety.
The draft now awaits scrutiny by the EU Parliament and the Council of the EU. If no objections are raised, they will be enforced 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The regulation previously influenced Nintendo to announce a new version of the Switch 2 with a user-replaceable battery.
It is currently unclear if the draft exemptions will face objections from the EU Parliament or the Council of the EU, which could alter or block the exemptions. The specific classification of wireless earbuds (such as Apple's AirPods) is not explicitly listed in the draft, though they may fall under the wearable exemption if safety or water resistance concerns are deemed applicable.
In the United States, federal right-to-repair rules have largely been abandoned, though states such as California, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon have implemented their own laws. The EU adopted the Batteries Regulation in 2023 as part of the European Green Deal, aiming to build a greener, circular economy and reduce post-consumer waste.
