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Artifact GuideEU

EU RED common charger USB-C obligations

Directive (EU) 2022/2380 amended the Radio Equipment Directive so listed radio equipment with a removable or embedded rechargeable battery that can be recharged by wired charging must meet common-charger rules.

This page helps decide whether a device is in scope, confirm the application date, map USB-C and USB Power Delivery duties, and keep label, pictogram, packaging, distance-selling, and technical-file evidence together.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
Jul 25, 2026
4 sections4 primary sources
Overview

Apply the EU RED common-charger rules only after matching the product to an Annex Ia category, confirming that it has a removable or embedded rechargeable battery, and confirming that it can be recharged by wired charging. The first 12 categories have been covered since 28 December 2024 and laptops since 28 April 2026. The no-charger offer is triggered when a is offered with the equipment; the pictogram must show whether a charging device is included; and the label and instruction duties follow their own placement rules.

Section 1

Which products are in scope and when do the rules apply?

Start with the category definitions inserted by Directive (EU) 2022/2380, not a broad electronics or accessory label. The common-charger rules apply only when the product is listed radio equipment, has a removable or embedded rechargeable battery, and can be recharged by wired charging. A product that charges only wirelessly is not subject to those rules.

For the listed categories in Annex Ia points 1.1 to 1.12, Member States apply the measures from 28 December 2024. For laptops, listed separately in point 1.13, the application date is 28 April 2026. Category names are defined in the amendment, so borderline products should be classified against those definitions rather than marketing names or screen size alone.

  • Treat handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems as the 28 December 2024 category set.
  • Treat laptops, including portable computers such as notebooks, ultraportables, hybrids, convertibles, and netbooks, as the 28 April 2026 category set.
  • For digital cameras, apply the amendment's definition and its carve-out for equipment designed exclusively for the audiovisual sector or the security and surveillance sector; a marketing label alone does not establish the exclusion.
  • For earbuds, assess the earbuds together with the dedicated charging case or box; do not treat that case as the .
Section 2

What must the wired charging design support?

For in-scope equipment capable of wired charging, the RED common charger duty is a product-design requirement as well as a documentation requirement. The equipment must have an accessible and operational USB Type-C receptacle and must be chargeable with compliant USB Type-C cables.

If the equipment supports wired charging at voltages above 5 V, currents above 3 A, or power above 15 W, any one of those thresholds activates the USB Power Delivery requirement. Any additional charging protocol must preserve full USB Power Delivery functionality irrespective of the used.

  • Record the hardware interface, cable compatibility, and whether the USB Type-C receptacle remains accessible and operational in the final product configuration.
  • For products above 5 V, 3 A, or 15 W, record USB Power Delivery support and any proprietary or additional protocol review.
  • Use the updated 2022 references for EN IEC 62680-1-3 and EN IEC 62680-1-2 when documenting the applicable technical specifications.
  • Do not describe wireless charging as already harmonised by these wired-charging requirements; the Commission is separately tracking wireless charging standardisation.
Section 3

What sales, label, pictogram, and instruction evidence should be kept?

If an economic operator offers in-scope equipment together with a , it must also offer consumers and other end-users the possibility to acquire that equipment without any charging device. The obligation applies to the operator making the bundle offer, not only the manufacturer. It gives a choice to buy without the external power supply; the current rule does not require the cable to be unbundled.

Manufacturers must state the minimum power required to charge and the maximum power required for maximum charging speed in watts, and identify USB PD fast charging plus any other supported protocol where applicable. Put that information in the instructions and the prescribed Part IV label. The Part III charger-included or charger-not-included pictogram must be at least 7 mm in its controlling dimension and keep the prescribed proportions. Both the label and pictogram must be visible and legible, including close to the price in distance selling.

  • Keep product-page, packaging, marketplace, and distributor evidence showing whether a is included and whether the no-charger purchase option is available when a charger bundle is offered.
  • Distinguish the , meaning the external power-supply part of a battery charger, from a charging cable when documenting the unbundling choice.
  • Retain the Part III pictogram artwork decision, packaging placement proof, distance-selling screenshot, and any translations or market variants.
  • Retain the Part IV label showing the minimum and maximum wattage values and USB PD text where the product supports USB Power Delivery.
  • Keep instructions and safety information showing charging capabilities and compatible charging devices, then cross-reference them from the technical documentation.
Recommended next step

Turn RED common charger duties into release evidence

This RED common charger guide is a cited workflow for product, regulatory, quality, packaging, ecommerce, legal, and distributor teams. Keep scope, dates, USB-C design evidence, charger options, labels, pictograms, and review triggers together.

Research workflow
Open Research Copilot

Answer RED scope, timing, and interpretation questions with cited outputs.

Explore next step
Talk to Sorena
Talk through implementation

Review your scope, evidence model, controls, and next actions.

Explore next step
Section 4

Implementation checklist for RED common charger obligations

Use the checklist as a release gate for each product family, variant, bundle, sales channel, and market date. The output should be a dated applies/does-not-apply/needs-escalation decision that product, regulatory, quality, legal, ecommerce, packaging, support, importer, and distributor teams can repeat.

  • Identify the exact product category, rechargeable-battery status, wired-charging capability, and market-placement date.
  • Confirm whether the 28 December 2024 category date or the 28 April 2026 laptop date applies.
  • Verify USB Type-C receptacle accessibility, compliant cable charging, and USB Power Delivery support where charging exceeds 5 V, 3 A, or 15 W.
  • Check that charger bundles are paired with a no-charger purchase option when the rule is triggered.
  • Approve the instructions, packaging, label, pictogram, online product detail page, and distance-selling price-area display before release.
  • Reopen the record after hardware, firmware, charging protocol, supplier, packaging, marketplace, standard-reference, or legal text changes.
  • Stop the affected bundle or listing when the no-charger choice, pictogram, label, wattage values, or instructions are missing or wrong, then correct the consumer information and preserve the approval record before supply resumes.
Primary sources

References and citations

European Commission - one common charging solution for all
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu5 citations
Referenced sections
  • Commission source for common charger purpose, device categories, 2024 and 2026 dates, USB-C, fast charging, unbundling, consumer information, pictograms, labels, and wireless-charging follow-up.
  • Commission overview for the common charging solution, covered device categories, and 2024 and 2026 timing.
  • Commission overview explaining USB-C, harmonised fast charging, unbundling, consumer information, and wireless-charging follow-up work.
Show 2 more
  • Commission page linking the high-resolution pictograms and label specified by Directive (EU) 2022/2380.
  • Commission implementation overview for the common charger elements teams need to operationalise.
"USB-C is the common port."
More quoted passages
"These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026."
"Download the high-resolution label"
"The main elements are as follows."
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 common charger amendment
eur-lex.europa.eu4 citations
Referenced sections
  • Binding amendment to Directive 2014/53/EU for common charger scope, application dates, USB-C, USB PD, unbundling, pictograms, labels, and instructions.
  • Binding amendment source for no-charger purchasing option, charger-in-box pictogram, label placement, and distance-selling display requirements.
  • Primary legal amendment for the common charger release-gate checks and application timing.
"Radio equipment falling within the categories or classes specified in Part I of Annex Ia"
More quoted passages
"They shall apply those measures from 28 December 2024"
"without any charging device"
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717 on wired charging specifications
eur-lex.europa.eu3 citations
Referenced sections
  • Delegated regulation updating the Annex Ia technical specification references to EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 and EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022.
  • Delegated regulation updating Annex Ia references to EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 for USB Type-C and EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022 for USB Power Delivery.
  • Source for updated technical specification references used in wired-charging design reviews.
"EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022"
More quoted passages
"EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022"
Directive 2014/53/EU consolidated text through 28 December 2024
eur-lex.europa.eu3 citations
Referenced sections
  • Consolidated RED text showing the amended common charger provisions in Article 3(4), Article 3a, Article 10(8), and Annex Ia.
  • Consolidated RED text showing the amended Annex Ia charging specifications, including USB Type-C, USB Power Delivery, label, and pictogram provisions.
  • Consolidated RED text for Article 3a, Article 10(8), Annex Ia Part II, Part III, and Part IV consumer-information requirements.
"be equipped with the USB Type-C receptacle"
More quoted passages
"the label shall be displayed in a visible and legible manner"

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