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FAQEU

RED common charger FAQ USB-C scope

The EU common charger rules under the Radio Equipment Directive apply to listed rechargeable radio equipment that can be charged by wire, with most listed handheld devices covered from 28 December 2024 and laptops from 28 April 2026.

This FAQ helps answer whether a device is in scope, what USB-C and duties apply, and what label, pictogram, charger-option, instruction, and evidence records should be kept.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
Oct 15, 2026
4 sections4 primary sources
Overview

The EU RED common charger rules concern listed radio equipment with a removable or embedded rechargeable battery, and the USB-C design duties apply when that equipment can be recharged by . For a practical decision, identify the Annex Ia category, battery and wired-charging capability, application date, USB-C and requirements, whether a is bundled, and the consumer label and pictogram evidence. Digital cameras designed exclusively for the audiovisual sector or the security and surveillance sector are outside the intended digital-camera scope, and earbuds are treated together with their dedicated charging case or box.

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4 of 4 questions
Question 1

Which radio equipment must meet the EU Common Charger rules?

The common-charger amendment concerns the Annex Ia categories with a removable or embedded rechargeable battery. Within those categories, the USB-C interface and cable requirements apply when the equipment can be recharged by . The listed categories are handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds, and laptops.

For Annex Ia points 1.1 to 1.12, Member States apply the common charger measures from 28 December 2024. For laptops, listed in point 1.13, the application date is 28 April 2026.

Digital cameras designed exclusively for the audiovisual sector or the security and surveillance sector are not meant to be covered by the common charger scope for digital cameras. Earbuds are assessed together with their dedicated charging case or box, because the case is part of how that product is used.

  • Answer scope from the Annex Ia category list, not from a broad electronics or accessory description.
  • Confirm that the product has a removable or embedded rechargeable battery and whether it can be recharged by before applying the USB-C charging-interface requirements.
  • Apply the 28 December 2024 date to the listed handheld device categories and the 28 April 2026 date to laptops.
  • Do not treat wireless charging as already covered by the wired-charging USB-C rule; the Commission is separately tracking wireless charging standardisation.

Which radio equipment must meet the EU Common Charger rules?

The amendment concerns listed Annex Ia radio equipment with a removable or embedded rechargeable battery. Its USB-C design duties apply when that equipment can be recharged by . The categories are handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds, and laptops. Digital cameras designed exclusively for the audiovisual sector or the security and surveillance sector are outside that digital-camera scope, and earbuds are assessed together with their dedicated charging case or box. The non-laptop categories apply from 28 December 2024, and laptops apply from 28 April 2026.

Does every in-scope product need USB-C?

If the in-scope equipment is capable of being recharged by , it must have an accessible and operational USB Type-C receptacle and be capable of charging with compliant USB Type-C cables. If it only has wireless charging, do not apply the wired USB-C requirement without checking whether later delegated acts or standards have changed the rule.

When is required?

is required for in-scope wired-charging equipment when it can be recharged at voltages higher than 5 V, currents higher than 3 A, or powers higher than 15 W. If the product also supports another charging protocol, that protocol must allow full USB Power Delivery functionality irrespective of the used.

Can covered radio equipment still be sold with a charger?

Yes. An economic operator may offer covered radio equipment with a , but it must also offer consumers and other end users the option to acquire the same equipment without any charging device. The required pictogram must show whether the offered package includes one.

What must an online offer show near the price?

For distance selling, the required charger-included or charger-not-included pictogram and the charging-capability label must be visible and legible close to the price indication. Keep a dated capture for each product variant, bundle, marketplace, and country-facing page.

Question 2

What must the USB-C and fast-charging design support?

For in-scope wired-charging equipment, the design record should show the USB Type-C receptacle, cable compatibility, and whether the receptacle stays accessible and operational in the shipped configuration.

For equipment above 5 V, above 3 A, or above 15 W, keep a separate and additional-protocol review. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717 updated the technical specification references to EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 for USB Type-C and EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022 for USB Power Delivery.

  • Record the final hardware interface and cable-charging evidence for each product variant.
  • Record voltage, current, and power assumptions used to decide whether the threshold is triggered.
  • Check any proprietary or additional fast-charging protocol against the requirement to preserve full functionality.
  • Use the updated 2022 EN IEC 62680 references when documenting the applicable technical specifications.
Question 3

What charger, label, pictogram, and instruction information is required?

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

The product must use the required pictogram to show whether a is included. Manufacturers must include charging-capability and compatible-charger information in the instructions and display the required label. Importers and distributors must verify the required information and presentation before making the product available. For distance selling, the pictogram and label must be visible and legible close to the price indication.

The label states the minimum power required to charge the equipment and the maximum power required to reach the maximum charging speed, expressed in watts. It also shows 'USB PD' when the equipment supports . These values describe the radio equipment's charging needs; they are not a generic wattage claim for every adapter in the product family.

  • Keep proof of the charger-included or charger-not-included pictogram on packaging and online product pages.
  • Keep the no-charger purchase option evidence whenever the same in-scope equipment is offered with a .
  • Keep the Part IV label showing minimum and maximum charging power values and USB PD text where is supported.
  • Keep instructions and safety information that describe charging capabilities and compatible charging devices in the required market language.
Question 4

What evidence should support a Common Charger decision?

Keep evidence that lets a reviewer follow the decision without project history. Tie the product variant to the Annex Ia category, application date, wired-charging capability, USB-C and assessment, charger-in-box choice, consumer information, and retained source URLs.

Reopen the decision when hardware, firmware, charging protocol, supplier, packaging, marketplace listing, standard reference, category interpretation, or legal text changes.

  • Maintain a dated scope memo that identifies the product category, charging capability, market placement plan, and application date.
  • Attach design evidence for USB Type-C, cable charging, where triggered, and any additional charging protocol.
  • Attach packaging, label, pictogram, instruction, product-page, distance-selling, distributor, and marketplace evidence.
  • Name the owner for the decision and the trigger for review after product or legal changes.
Recommended next step

Turn common charger answers into release evidence

Keep the product category, application date, USB-C design evidence, charger options, labels, pictograms, and review triggers together in the product release record.

Research workflow
Open Research Copilot

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Talk through common charger implementation

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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 covered device categories, common charger purpose, USB-C, charger unbundling, consumer information, and 2024 and 2026 timing.
  • Commission overview explaining USB-C as the common port and harmonised fast charging as core common charger elements.
Show 2 more
  • Commission page linking the high-resolution pictograms and label specified by Directive (EU) 2022/2380.
  • Commission implementation overview for common charger elements and ongoing review of additional categories, wireless charging, and unbundling experience.
"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 Power Delivery, unbundling, pictograms, labels, and instructions.
  • Binding amendment source for no-charger purchase options, charger pictograms, label placement, instructions, and distance-selling display requirements.
  • Primary legal amendment for common charger scope, application dates, design duties, unbundling, labels, pictograms, and instructions.
"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 USB-C and USB Power Delivery design evidence.
"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 amended Article 3(4), Article 3a, Article 10(8), and Annex Ia common charger provisions after the 2022 and 2023 amendments.
  • 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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