Recently, MCM has received a large number of inquiries about the EU's "New Battery Law", and in order to let you know more about the new regulations, the following key questions are excerpted to answer.
Q: What are the requirements of the "New Battery Law"?
A: First of all, you need to distinguish the type of battery, such as portable battery (less than 5kg), industrial battery, EV, light vehicle battery (LMT), starting lighting battery (SLI). Then, according to the following table, find the corresponding requirements and mandatory times.
Q: In the "New Battery Law", do cells, modules, and batteries have to meet the regulatory requirements?If the battery is not sold separately and imported in the equipment, in this case, the battery must also meet the regulatory requirements.
A: If a cell or battery module is already circulating on the market without further incorporation or assembly into a larger battery pack or cell, they should be considered to have been placed on the market as a battery for the purposes of this regulation, then the regulatory requirements need to be met. Similarly, the regulation applies to batteries that are incorporated into or added to products, or batteries that are specifically designed to be incorporated into or added to products, so batteries in devices also need to meet the requirements.
Q: Is there a corresponding test standard for the "New Battery Law"?
A: The text of the new battery law will come into force in August 2023, and the earliest time for the provisions that need to be tested will come into force in August 2024.
Q: There is a requirement for portable detachability mentioned in the "New Battery Law"?What is detachable?
A: Detachable is defined as the removal of a battery by an end-user with a commercially available tool, which can be found in the reference to the tools included in the EN 45554 Appendix. If special tools are used, the manufacturer needs to provide special tools, hot melt adhesives and solvents free of charge.
After disassembly, there is also the requirement of replaceability, i.e., the battery is removed from the product and can be replaced with another compatible battery without affecting the functionality, performance, or safety of the product.
It should also be noted that the detachable requirement will be implemented from February 18, 2027, and before the implementation of the EU, guidelines will be issued to urge the harmonized application of this provision.
Associated with this regulation is EU 2023 1670 – Regulation on the Ecology of Mobile Phone Batteries and Tablet Batteries, which has an exemption clause on the requirement of removal.
Q: What are the requirements for labeling under the New Battery Law?
A: In addition to the following labeling requirements, you also need to mark the CE logo after meeting the corresponding test requirements.
Q: What is the relationship between the "New Battery Act" and the current Battery Directive?Do you want to be satisfied at the same time?
A: Directive 2006 66 EC will be in 20258.18 invalid, which requires the trash can logo to be corresponded to in the label section of the new battery law. Then, before it expires, the new battery law is in force with the directive and needs to be met simultaneously.
The "New Battery Act" was originally intended to phase out the 2006 66 EC (Battery Directive). The EU believes that although the 2006 66 EC directive has improved the environmental performance of batteries and established some common rules and obligations for economic operators, it also has its limitations, such as not addressing the environmental impact of batteries, such as the battery ** market and the market for secondary raw materials for waste batteries, and not addressing the envisaged goals of the entire life cycle of batteries. As a result, regulations were proposed to replace Directive 2006 66 EC.
The requirements of the Battery Directive are reflected in Article 6 of the new Battery Act, Substance Restrictions, as follows:
Q: What can I do now about the "new battery law"?
A: At present, there is no provision for the implementation of the new battery law, and the latest implementation clause is 20242.Restricted substance requirements starting on the 18th, you can test early for this article.
In addition, the "conformity assessment" requirements for the new battery law (the same as the current products exported to the EU, which require a self-declaration and CE marking) are 20248.18. Start the implementation, then you only need to meet the technical requirements before the implementation, and the document requirements are not mandatory.
If it is an EV energy storage battery, you need to pay attention to the carbon footprint requirements, although the regulations will only start to require them in 2025, but the carbon footprint certification research period is long, and you can verify it internally in advance.