On 30 June 2026, the European Commission published a report identifying nine new categories of radio equipment that could be subject to the EU's common charger requirements (CCRs), based on a market analysis and supporting study. The categories include AR/VR headsets, drones for personal use, videogame controllers, smartwatches, fitness trackers, smartglasses, wristbands, battery-operated electric toothbrushes, and remote-controlled toys. The Commission recommends extending CCRs to six of these categories—excluding electric toothbrushes and remote-controlled toys due to safety and technical barriers—and invites the European Parliament and Council to consider the findings.
The report, mandated by the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), assesses market developments, fragmentation, and technological progress since CCRs entered into force. Currently, CCRs apply to mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems (since 28 December 2024), and laptops (since 28 April 2026). The Commission found that USB Type-C is unsuitable for electric toothbrushes (wet environments) and remote-controlled toys (safety and standardisation requirements), concluding that CCRs are not appropriate for these two categories.
Market trends show significant growth in the identified categories: sales of AR/VR headsets doubled from 0.7 million units in 2020 to 1.5 million in 2022 across 20 EU Member States; drones sold 1 million units in 2022; and wearables shipments reached 26 million in 2022. The Commission's environmental impact assessment indicates that applying CCRs to AR/VR headsets, drones, and videogame controllers would yield positive environmental benefits, while wearables would see additional greenhouse gas emissions, material use, and e-waste because they are already often sold without a charger.
New ecodesign requirements for External Power Supplies (EPS) will apply from 14 December 2028, mandating common chargers with USB Type-C ports, with exemptions for EPS used in wet environments, vacuum cleaners, certain power tools, toys, and audio equipment. The Commission's report serves as a basis for potential legislative amendments to extend CCRs to the recommended categories, with the European Parliament and Council expected to consider the proposal in due course.