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Ecodesign requirements – smartphones, mobile phones other than smartphones, cordless phones and slate tablets

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 laying down ecodesign requirements for smartphones, mobile phones other than smartphones, cordless phones and slate tablets

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It aims to limit the environmental impact of mobile and cordless phones and tablets being placed on the European Union (EU) market by introducing minimum requirements.

KEY POINTS

Main features

  • The ecodesign requirements are set out in Annex II, including rules on:
    • resistance to accidental drops or scratches and protection from dust and water;
    • durability of batteries – batteries of smart phones and slate tablets should withstand at least 800 cycles of charge and discharge while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity;
    • disassembly and repair, including obligations for producers to make critical spare parts available to repairers within 5–10 working days, and until 7 years after the end of sales of the product model on the EU market;
    • operating system upgrades for at least 5 years after the product has been placed on the market;
    • non-discriminatory access for professional repairers to any software or firmware needed for the replacement.
  • The regulation specifies which conformity assessment procedures apply.
  • EU Member States’ national authorities must apply the verification procedures laid down in Annex IV when carrying out market surveillance checks.
  • The regulation specifically forbids devices designed to alter their performance under testing.
  • Annex V sets out indicative benchmarks for the best-performing products and technology available on the market.

Review

  • The Commission must review this regulation in the light of technological progress and present its results, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, by 20 September 2027, to a Consultation Forum set up under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 (see summary).

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It will apply from 20 June 2025 with the exception of Article 6, which has applied since 20 September 2023.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

KEY TERMS

Eco-design. Policy to improve, through better design, products’ environmental performance throughout their life cycle, especially their energy efficiency.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670 of 16 June 2023 laying down ecodesign requirements for smartphones, mobile phones other than smartphones, cordless phones and slate tablets pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/826 (OJ L 214, 31.8.2023, pp. 47–93).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1669 of 16 June 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the energy labelling of smartphones and slate tablets (OJ L 214, 31.8.2023, pp. 9–46).

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/826 of 17 April 2023 laying down ecodesign requirements for off mode, standby mode, and networked standby energy consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment pursuant to Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Regulations (EC) No 1275/2008 and (EC) No 107/2009 (OJ L 103, 18.4.2023, pp. 29–47).

Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2017 setting a framework for energy labelling and repealing Directive 2010/30/EU (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, pp. 1–23).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (OJ L 285, 31.10.2009, pp. 10–35).

See consolidated version.

last update 08.02.2024

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