What is Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542?

The Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 is the European Union's legal framework governing the entire life cycle of all batteries. Portable battery waste collection must reach 63 percent by the end of 2027, rising to 73 percent by the end of 2030, with steeper targets for lithium and cobalt recovery.

If you sell electronics, vehicles, or standalone batteries into the European market, you already know that compliance is a moving target. You might be struggling to keep up with the shifting rules around what materials you can use, how products must be labelled, and what happens when those products reach the end of their useful life. The EU Batteries Regulation brings all of these requirements under a single, direct law that applies uniformly across every member state, replacing the patchwork of national interpretations that existed under the older directive.

The primary goal of this legislation is to force producers to take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products. By doing so, the regulation shifts the environmental cost of battery disposal away from public authorities and back onto the businesses that profit from their sale. For merchants, this means that placing a battery on the market requires active participation in registration systems, meeting specific recovery targets, and adhering to strict new product design rules. Your clear next step is to audit your product catalogue and ensure every integrated or standalone battery is registered with the correct national authorities.

What the EU Batteries Regulation actually means

The regulation covers every type of battery placed on the market, whether it is a tiny button cell in a watch, a heavy industrial battery, or the power source for an electric bicycle. Because it is a regulation rather than a directive, the text applies directly and identically in Germany, France, and every other member state without needing to be translated into national law first.

The regulation forces a fundamental shift from treating batteries as disposable consumables to managing them as valuable material banks that must be recovered and reused.

The regulation aims to ensure that, in the future, batteries have a low carbon footprint, use minimal harmful substances, and are collected, reused, and recycled to a high degree within the European Union (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries - EUR-Lex). It introduces specific recycling efficiency targets that facilities and producer schemes must meet, such as 80 percent for nickel-cadmium batteries, 75 percent for lead-acid batteries, and 65 percent for lithium-based batteries by the end of 2025.

Furthermore, companies must identify, prevent, and address social and environmental risks linked to the sourcing, processing, and trading of raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and natural graphite contained in their batteries. The legislation also covers restrictions on hazardous substances like mercury, cadmium, and lead, along with mandatory information on the carbon footprint of batteries.

Does this apply to me?

Yes, if your business places batteries on the EU market, this applies to you. You might assume that because you only sell the final consumer device - like a laptop, an electric toothbrush, or a toy - the battery rules do not concern you. This is incorrect. If you import or distribute products containing batteries, you take on the legal obligations of a producer.

The regulation applies to all batteries. This includes portable batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, industrial batteries, starting, lighting and ignition batteries, and batteries for light means of transport (LMT) such as electric bikes, e-mopeds, and e-scooters.

If you are based outside the European Union but sell directly to European consumers through a marketplace or your own website, you are still legally obligated to register and finance the recovery of these products. You will need to appoint an authorised representative in the respective member states to handle your registrations and report your sales volumes.

What collection and recycling targets must producers hit under the EU Batteries Regulation?

The targets and deadlines run on a rigid timeline of recovery, collection, and recycling requirements. You need to be aware of these dates so you can adapt your product design and supply chain in advance.

Common misconceptions about the Batteries Regulation

• I only sell the device, so I am not a battery producer. This is a frequent misunderstanding. If you sell a product with an integrated battery into the European Union, you are placing that battery on the market and are fully obligated to register it and pay the associated recycling fees.
• I can permanently seal batteries inside my devices. The law strictly prohibits this practice for future consumer goods. A specific requirement mandates that portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end user by 2027.
• Labelling is just about the crossed-out wheelie bin. While that symbol remains a legal requirement, the new rules go much further. Information and labelling covering matters such as battery components and recycled content will be required in the form of a QR code.
• The rules only apply to giant electric vehicle batteries. The scope of the law is total. It applies to all batteries, encompassing portable consumer batteries, industrial batteries, starting batteries, and light means of transport batteries.

5 examples of obligated battery types

• Portable batteries: These are the standard consumer batteries found in television remote controls, flashlights, handheld gaming consoles, and mobile phones.
• Light means of transport (LMT) batteries: This specific category covers the power sources for electric bikes, e-mopeds, and e-scooters. They will need to be replaceable by an independent professional.
• Electric vehicle (EV) batteries: Large-scale units used to power electric cars and trucks. For these products, as well as LMT and industrial batteries, a digital battery passport will be required.
• Industrial batteries: High-capacity storage units used in factories, solar farms, or telecommunications infrastructure.
• Starting, lighting and ignition batteries: The traditional batteries used mostly for vehicles and machinery. Minimum levels of recycled content will apply to these from 18 August 2031.

Terms related to Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542

Frequently asked questions

When does the new EU Batteries Regulation apply?

The regulation has applied since 18 February 2024, with the exception of certain specified rules that will phase in over the coming years.

Do I need a battery passport for AA batteries?

No. The requirement for a digital battery passport specifically applies to light means of transport (LMT), industrial, and electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Standard portable consumer batteries do not require the passport, though they will need a QR code from 2027.

What happens to the old battery directive?

The new regulation fully replaces the older legal framework. It officially repeals Directive 2006/66/EC on the disposal of spent batteries from 30 June 2027.

Will I have to use recycled materials in my batteries?

Yes, for certain types of batteries. Minimum levels of recycled content for industrial batteries, starting, lighting and ignition batteries, and EV batteries will apply from 18 August 2031. The specific minimums include 16 percent for cobalt, 85 percent for lead, 6 percent for lithium, and 6 percent for nickel.

Can I still sell products with built-in batteries that cannot be removed?

No, the design of consumer electronics must change to support the circular economy. The regulation establishes a requirement that portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end user by 2027.

How does this affect electric bicycles and scooters?

These products fall under the light means of transport (LMT) category. The batteries in these vehicles will need to be replaceable by an independent professional. Additionally, producers face specific waste collection objectives for LMT batteries, which are set at 51 percent by the end of 2028 and 61 percent by the end of 2031.

Sources:

• Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries - EUR-Lex