Artifact GuideEU

EU RED common charger USB-C obligations

Directive (EU) 2022/2380 amended the Radio Equipment Directive so listed rechargeable radio equipment must meet common charging rules for wired charging, consumer information, and charger availability.

Use this page to 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
May 9, 2026
Sections
4

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
4

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata
Sorena AI
Published May 9, 2026
Updated May 9, 2026
Overview

The EU RED common charger rules are not a general promise that every electronic product uses the same charger. They apply to listed categories of radio equipment that can be recharged by wired charging, with most listed handheld devices covered from 28 December 2024 and laptops from 28 April 2026. A defensible record should tie each product variant to the Annex Ia category, charging capability, USB-C and USB PD requirements, charger-in-box choice, consumer label and pictogram, and retained evidence.

Section 1

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

Start with the category list in Annex Ia, not with a broad electronics or accessory label. The common charger requirements cover listed radio equipment with a removable or embedded rechargeable battery when it is capable of wired charging.

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.

  • 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, check the source carve-out before scoping specialist audiovisual, security, or surveillance equipment.
  • For earbuds, assess the earbuds together with the dedicated charging case or box; do not treat that case as the charging device.
Sources for this answer
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 common charger amendment
Binding amendment to Directive 2014/53/EU for common charger scope, application dates, USB-C, USB PD, unbundling, pictograms, labels, and instructions.
European Commission - one common charging solution for all
Commission overview for the common charging solution, covered device categories, and 2024 and 2026 timing.
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 above 5 V, above 3 A, or above 15 W, the common charger rules add a USB Power Delivery requirement. Any additional charging protocol must preserve full USB Power Delivery functionality irrespective of the charging device 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.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU consolidated text through 28 December 2024
Consolidated RED text showing the amended Annex Ia charging specifications, including USB Type-C, USB Power Delivery, label, and pictogram provisions.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717 on wired charging specifications
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.
European Commission - one common charging solution for all
Commission overview explaining USB-C, harmonised fast charging, unbundling, consumer information, and wireless-charging follow-up work.
Section 3

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

The common charger rules are also consumer-information rules. If an economic operator offers in-scope equipment together with a charging device, it must also offer consumers and other end-users the possibility to acquire that radio equipment without any charging device.

Manufacturers must include charging-capability and compatible-charger information in the instructions and display it on the required label. The label and the charger-included or charger-not-included pictogram must be visible and legible, including close to the price indication in distance selling.

  • Keep product-page, packaging, marketplace, and distributor evidence showing whether a charging device is included and whether the no-charger purchase option is offered when a charger bundle is offered.
  • 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.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU consolidated text through 28 December 2024
Consolidated RED text for Article 3a, Article 10(8), Annex Ia Part II, Part III, and Part IV consumer-information requirements.
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 common charger amendment
Binding amendment source for no-charger purchasing option, charger-in-box pictogram, label placement, and distance-selling display requirements.
European Commission - one common charging solution for all
Commission page linking the high-resolution pictograms and label specified by Directive (EU) 2022/2380.
Recommended next step

Turn RED common charger duties into release evidence

Use this RED common charger guide as 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 and variant. The output should be a dated yes/no/needs-escalation decision that product, regulatory, quality, legal, ecommerce, packaging, support, and distributor teams can reuse.

  • 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.
Sources for this answer
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 common charger amendment
Primary legal amendment for the common charger release-gate checks and application timing.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717 on wired charging specifications
Source for updated technical specification references used in wired-charging design reviews.
European Commission - one common charging solution for all
Commission implementation overview for the common charger elements teams need to operationalise.
Primary sources

References and citations

Directive (EU) 2022/2380 common charger amendment
eur-lex.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • 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"
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