The European Commission has identified nine new categories of radio equipment that could be subject to common charger requirements under the Radio Equipment Directive, based on a market study and analysis of market developments, fragmentation and technological progress. The report, published on 30 June 2026 by the Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW), assesses the potential extension of the rules to augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets, drones for personal use, videogame controllers, smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, wristbands, battery-operated electric toothbrushes, and remote-controlled toys. However, the Commission excludes electric toothbrushes and remote-controlled toys from possible application due to safety concerns related to wet environments and toy safety standardisation requirements. The report also finds that wearables would see increased emissions from technical adaptations, making their inclusion environmentally negative.
The common charger requirements (CCRs) have applied since 28 December 2024 to mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems. Since 28 April 2026, laptops have also been covered. The new report is part of the regular review mandated by the Radio Equipment Directive to assess market fragmentation and technological progress. The analysis found that USB Type-C adoption varies significantly across the new categories: 65% of drones and videogame controllers already use USB Type-C, 40% of AR/VR headsets, but only 6% of wearables and 7% of electric toothbrushes. The Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 for External Power Supplies, which will apply from 14 December 2028, will require all chargers to have at least one USB Type-C port, further harmonising the charging landscape.
The report assesses the impact of extending CCRs to the four main categories (AR/VR headsets, drones, videogame controllers, and wearables) and finds that consumer savings outweigh manufacturer costs across all four. Environmental benefits, including greenhouse gas reductions and less electronic waste, are positive for all categories except wearables, which would see increased emissions from technical adaptations. For electric toothbrushes and remote-controlled toys, the Commission cites safety concerns: wet environments for toothbrushes and the need for compliance with toy safety standardisation requirements as barriers to inclusion. The report does not propose immediate legislative action but serves as a basis for future policy decisions by the European Parliament and the Council.
The report's publication sets the stage for potential legislative proposals to extend common charger rules. The European Parliament and the Council will now consider the findings, with industry stakeholders likely to weigh in on the costs and benefits for each category. Consumer groups may push for broader coverage, while manufacturers of wearables and toothbrushes may resist due to the identified negative environmental and safety impacts.