The design of a common charger for all mobile phones sold in the EU was demanded by MEPs with a bill on radio equipment that they adopted on Thursday. The aim is to reduce both the cost and waste of waste and the consumer's discomfort. The bill is the product of an agreement already reached between the European Parliament and the Council.
"The revised Community Directive on radio equipment will be an effective tool to avoid interference between different devices. I am very pleased that we have agreed on the introduction of a common charger for the benefit of both consumers and the environment. The end of today's variety of chargers and the 51.000 tonnes of electronic waste produced annually will be put to good use, "said rapporteur Barbara Weiler (Socialists, Germany).
Wanting to respond effectively to the challenge presented by the growing number and ever-increasing variety of devices, MEPs established harmonized rules for the marketing of radio equipment such as mobile phones, car remote controls and modems. They wish to ensure that each device does not adversely affect the existence of the other, as well as that it adheres to some important requirements regarding health and better safety.
A common charger
Members of the European Parliament called for a common charger to be designed for certain categories of radio equipment, especially mobile phones, in order to simplify their use and reduce unnecessary waste and costs.
In their view, the radio equipment available on the market should be compatible with a common type of charger. However, it is the European Commission that decides exactly what categories of radio equipment should comply with this requirement.
Detection of unsafe radio equipment
MEPs argued that competent authorities should have additional tools to help them locate radio equipment that does not comply with the new safety rules.
After a thorough evaluation of the information it will receive from the Member States, the European Commission will determine the categories of radio equipment that should obtain a registration number, which manufacturers will place on the radio equipment available on the market. A similar base data after all, it already works in the US.
Next steps
The bill was passed by MEPs with 550 votes in favor, 12 v and 8 abstentions. It should then be formally adopted by the Council. Member States will have two years to transpose the revised directive into their national legislation and manufacturers will have one extra time to comply with the new rules.
Profit online 13/3/2014 18:12
