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The European Commission has revised its battery regulations to exempt devices such as the Apple Watch<\/a> from requirements that batteries be removable and replaceable by users. Here are the details.<\/p>\n Apple Watch and other wearables gain exemption from EU battery rules<\/p>\n As spotted by Politico<\/a>, the European Union has relaxed battery rules for certain wearable devices after U.S. officials criticized restrictions on products such as Meta\u2019s smart glasses.<\/p>\n Under the bloc\u2019s Batteries Regulation<\/a>, portable batteries built into products must generally be removable and replaceable by users throughout the device\u2019s lifetime.<\/p>\n The European Commission has now adopted an exemption<\/a> covering certain wearable devices whose safety, durability, or water resistance could be compromised by user access to the battery, including devices that are too small for safe battery replacement or rely on compact, sealed enclosures.<\/p>\n That includes smartwatches, smart glasses, fitness trackers, and other small wearable devices.<\/p>\n Although the Commission has adopted the exemption, it must still undergo scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.<\/p>\n From the European Commission\u2019s website<\/a>:<\/p>\n After its adoption by the Commission, the delegated act is transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for their scrutiny. It will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, if the European Parliament or the Council fail to object to it.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s change comes after the U.S. ambassador to the EU criticized the battery rules, which reportedly held up<\/a> the European rollout of Meta\u2019s new smart glasses. Commenting on the change to Politico, however, a European Commission spokesperson pushed back on the idea that the bloc had caved to pressure:<\/p>\n A Commission spokesperson said in a statement that it \u201chas not given in to anyone\u2019s pressure,\u201d adding that its proposals \u201cfollow a broad public consultation with consumer associations, industry stakeholders and the Member States.\u201d The spokesperson added that the proposal for the exemption \u201cis not about regulating one specific product\u201d but \u201cto ensure safer consumer and industrial products in cases where opening a device could create safety risks or where technical limits make consumer access unrealistic.\u201d<\/p>\n Be that as it may, today\u2019s news removes a potential regulatory hurdle for Apple in Europe, allowing the Apple Watch<\/a> to keep its sealed battery design without requiring a major redesign for the EU market.<\/p>\n To read the European Commission\u2019s full delegated act, follow this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n Worth checking out on Amazon<\/p>\n
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