Batteries 101: EU regulations

The demand for batteries is set to increase 14-fold globally by 2030. Batteries are present in households, corporate buildings, operational facilities, hospitals, and more. This ever-present product can power tools, electrical equipment, toys, medical devices, vehicles, and a range of devices, so manufacturers and distributors must adhere to strict regulations around the world.  

In the webinar, Batteries 101: beyond chemicals, Global Product Compliance Manager Stacey Bowers provides key insights on chemical compliance for batteries, and discusses current and upcoming regulations in the US, EU, and Asia. 

In this summary article, we highlight some of the battery requirements laid out under the EU’s leading regulation. 

EU Batteries Regulation – “the most onerous regulation for batteries”

In August 2023, the European Union (EU) enacted Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, the Batteries Regulation — replacing a 2006 Directive. All 27 Member States applied the regulation simultaneously once it entered into force. 

This Regulation is the first EU legislation which takes accountability for the full lifecycle of a product, from its conception to its disposal, rather than merely focusing on one aspect of compliance. As a result, there are more regulations to meet, from design to distribution to packaging requirements. 

Further, the EU Batteries Regulation is also the first global regulation to address the entire lifecycle of batteries. Consequently, many companies use the EU’s legislation as a benchmark for their approach to battery safety across jurisdictions, knowing that if they comply with EU regulations, they’re typically meeting, or exceeding, standards for other countries.  

The Regulation applies to all types of batteries, regardless of their shape, volume, weight, design, composition, chemistry, or use. The only exemptions to the Regulation include: 

• Equipment connected with the protection of Member States’ essential security interests, arms, munitions, and war material 
• Equipment designed to be sent to space 

The EU defines batteries into the following categories: 

• Portable battery — defined as a sealed battery, weighing 5kg or less, and not designed for industrial use, electric vehicle use, light means of transport (LMT), or starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) use 
• Electric vehicle battery — defined as providing electric power for traction in hybrid or electric vehicles of category L, M, N, or O, weighing more than 25kg 
• Starting, lighting, and ignition battery — categorized as supplying electric power for starting, lighting, or igniting 
• Light means of transport battery — defined as a sealed battery, weighing 25kg or less, and providing electric power for the traction of wheels vehicles 
• Industrial battery — classified as a battery designed for industrial use, or a battery weighing more than 5kg that’s not designed for an electric vehicle, LTM, or SLI
   

Key highlights of the EU Batteries Regulation 

Under this Regulation, batteries in Europe must be designed and manufactured to optimize their performance, durability, and safety. Their design and composition must aim to minimize the overall environmental footprint. 

Companies must follow specific sustainability requirements for certain types of batteries, such as rechargeable industrial batteries, LMT batteries, and electrical vehicle batteries. By 2030, it’s expected that this market segment will increase the most, with these batteries in highest demand as we continue to invest in electrical solutions. Therefore, regulatory authorities are leveraging the EU Batteries Regulation to get ahead with designing batteries which preserve, rather than damage, our environment through their production or disposal.
 

Regulating heavy metals 

Mirroring the 2006 Directive, some battery categories continue to be regulated on certain heavy metals, and must comply with the following restrictions: 

• Contain no more than 0.0005% of mercury by weight 
• Contain no more than 0.002% of cadmium by weight 
• Contain no more than 0.01% of lead by weight
   

Carbon footprint declaration 

Further, to prepare for the green economy, and contribute to the EU’s growing idea of circularity, electric vehicle batteries, rechargeable industrial batteries, and LMT batteries must be accompanied by a carbon footprint declaration by 18 February 2025.
 

Recycled content requirements 

There are new requirements for recycled content in industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh, electric vehicle batteries, and SLI batteries. 

Further, covered batteries that contain cobalt, lead, lithium, or nickel in active materials must be accompanied by a document containing: 

• Information about the percentage share of materials recovered from waste 
• Information about the percentage share of lead in the battery, recovered from waste, per year and per manufacturing plant 

These requirements come into effect from 18 August 2028, with increasing minimum percentage shares at each deadline, through to 18 August 2036. The aim of these requirements is to ensure EU battery manufacturers are being more environmentally friendly by recycling materials which are still safe to use, minimizing the quantity of waste overall.
 

Removability and replaceability requirements 

Further to ensuring battery waste is minimized, the EU has laid out removability and replaceability standards. This is to ensure portable batteries within appliances are collected, treated, and recycled separately to the appliance being disposed.  

To ensure proper and safe disposal, portable batteries which are incorporated inside other appliances must be easily removable and replaceable by the consumer and end-user, without the need for specialized tools.
 

Performance and durability requirements 

From 18 August 2028, portable batteries must meet electrochemical performance and durability requirements laid out in Annex III. These parameters include: 

• Minimum average duration 
• Rated capacity 
• Charge retention 
• Resistance to leakage 

From 18 August 2024, rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh, LMT batteries, and electric vehicle batteries must be accompanied by a document containing: 

• The rated capacity and capacity fade 
• Power and power fade 
• Internal resistance and internal resistance increase 
• The expected lifetime of the battery
   

Labeling standards 

All batteries must continue to bear the symbol for separate collection (depicted by the crossed-out wheeled bin). Further, all batteries which contain more than 0.002% cadmium or 0.004% lead need to be marked with the chemical symbol for the concerned metal (Cd or Pb) beneath the separate collection symbol. 

Mirroring the 2006 Directive, manufacturers must continue to affix the CE marking to compliant batteries. 

From 18 August 2026, batteries must also bear a label containing: 

• The category the battery fits into, as specified 
• The place and date of its manufacture 
• Its weight, capacity, and chemistry 
• Any hazardous substances in the battery, other than mercury, cadmium, or lead

Catch up on the full 101-level series so far

Unlock more detailed product compliance insights from our Product Intelligence expert with our webcast recordings, focusing on medical device safety, electrical and electronic equipment requirements, and textiles regulations.