On 24 June 2026, the Council of the European Union agreed on a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament to amend the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and the Industrial Emissions Portal Regulation (EU) 2024/1244, aiming to simplify requirements and reduce administrative burden for businesses and operators.
The proposed amendments to the Batteries Regulation include a broader definition of 'producer' to cover any entity selling batteries directly to end-users in a Member State, regardless of whether the sale is a distance contract. Light means of transport (LMT) batteries and their modules must be readily removable and replaceable by an independent professional during the product's lifetime, with cell-level removal required only at end-of-life, provided safety, performance and durability are safeguarded. From 18 February 2027, batteries must label specific substances of concern above 0.1% weight by weight, as defined in Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, excluding mercury, cadmium, and lead. QR code requirements are phased in: from 18 February 2027, LMT, industrial (>2 kWh), and EV batteries must have a QR code linking to the battery passport; other batteries (including SLI) must have a QR code linking to the declaration of conformity and waste management information, and from 18 months after the implementing act, labelling information. The requirement for the Commission to publish a specific report on Member State data is deleted, though the Commission will continue collecting and reviewing reported information. Article 11 on removability/replaceability will not apply to products covered by derogations in the delegated act until 18 August 2028.
For the Industrial Emissions Portal Regulation, operators of livestock production or aquaculture installations are exempt from reporting off-site waste transfers, off-site pollutant transfers in waste water, production volume, and operating hours, provided Member States can gather that data by other means without disproportionate burden. Those operators are also not required to report data on water, energy, and raw material use.
The mandate will now serve as the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament. The regulation will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
Stakeholder impact The amendments reduce compliance costs for battery producers, particularly small and medium enterprises, by simplifying labelling and removability rules and postponing certain requirements. Livestock and aquaculture operators benefit from reduced reporting obligations, lowering administrative burden. However, environmental NGOs may criticise the reduced reporting requirements for livestock and aquaculture, arguing it could hinder monitoring of pollution and resource use. Consumers may see less information on battery labels and QR codes, potentially affecting informed purchasing decisions. The deletion of the Commission's review report on Member State data reduces transparency for the public and researchers.