EU USB-C Common Charger Rules: What Electronics Importers and Brands Should Check

The EU's common charger rules changed how many portable electronic devices sold in Europe are designed and packaged. They were introduced by Directive (EU) 2022/2380, which amended the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU). This guide summarises what the text says and what an importer or brand should check with suppliers. It is a practical overview, not legal advice. The sources are listed at the end.

Short answer: from 28 December 2024, handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems and earbuds that can be charged by cable must have a USB Type-C charging port. Laptops followed from 28 April 2026. Where any of these devices is offered with a charger, it must also be offered without one, and the packaging must show whether a charger is included.

Which Devices Are Covered

The requirements apply to radio equipment in the following categories, listed in Annex Ia of the amended Radio Equipment Directive:

Category Application date
Handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras 28 December 2024
Headphones, headsets, earbuds 28 December 2024
Handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers 28 December 2024
E-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems 28 December 2024
Laptops 28 April 2026

Two points about scope are easy to miss. First, the rules sit in the Radio Equipment Directive, so they concern radio equipment, such as devices with Bluetooth connectivity. Second, the charging-port requirements apply in so far as a device can be recharged by wired charging. Smart watches, personal fans and phone coolers do not appear in the list. Whether other EU rules apply to those products is a separate question.

What the Rules Require

A USB Type-C receptacle

Covered devices that charge by cable must have a USB Type-C receptacle as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2021, and that receptacle must remain accessible and operational at all times. They must also be able to charge with cables that comply with the same standard.

USB Power Delivery for higher-power charging

Where a covered device can be charged by cable at more than 5 volts, more than 3 amperes or more than 15 watts, it must incorporate USB Power Delivery as described in EN IEC 62680-1-2:2021. Any additional fast-charging protocol must still allow USB Power Delivery to work fully, regardless of the charger used.

Selling without a charger

Where an economic operator offers a covered device together with a charging device, it must also offer the device without one. Whether a charger is included must be shown with a pictogram printed on, or attached as a sticker to, the packaging. In distance selling, the pictogram must be shown close to the price.

Charging information for users

The directive also requires information about a device's charging characteristics, including a description of the power requirements of chargers that can be used with it, to be provided with the product. The detailed format is set out in the directive and its annex.

What This Means for Sourcing

For headphones, earbuds and portable speakers intended for the EU, the charging specification has become part of the product definition rather than a detail. When you source these products, confirm the following for the exact model and version you will import:

  • the charging port type, and that it is accessible without tools;
  • whether the device charges above the voltage, current or power thresholds that trigger the USB Power Delivery requirement;
  • whether you will sell with a charger, without one, or both, and how the packaging will show this;
  • that the charging information required by the directive is prepared for your packaging and documents;
  • which conformity documents the supplier can provide for your model and target market.

Earbuds and some open-ear headphones charge through a case, so check how the case itself is charged. Our open-ear headphone buying guide and Bluetooth speaker sourcing checklist cover the other points to compare for those categories.

Related EU Rules for Battery-Powered Devices

Many covered devices also contain rechargeable batteries. Batteries are governed by a separate law, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. Our guide to the EU Batteries Regulation explains the main obligations and dates.

Checking Charging Specifications With RZLD

RZLD Electronics supplies consumer electronics, including open-ear headphones and Bluetooth speakers, working with qualified manufacturing partners in China. For buyers selling into the EU, RZLD can confirm the charging specification of a selected model and coordinate the documents available for that model and market. The obligations under EU law rest with the economic operators who place products on the EU market, and the specification for each order is confirmed in the written quotation.

Questions About the EU Common Charger Rules

Do Bluetooth earbuds sold in the EU need a USB-C port?

If they can be charged by cable, yes. Earbuds are listed among the covered categories from 28 December 2024.

Must I stop selling products with chargers?

No. You may still offer a charger, but you must also offer the device without one and show on the packaging whether a charger is included.

Do the rules cover devices that charge only wirelessly?

The USB-C port requirements apply in so far as a device can be charged by cable. The directive also provides for future harmonisation of wireless charging.

Are smart watches covered?

Smart watches are not among the categories listed in Annex Ia. Check the other EU requirements that apply to your product separately.

Official Sources for the Charger Rules

To check the charging specification of a model for the EU market, send an inquiry with the model and your target countries.

Back to blog