Portable batteries according to Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries

30. 5. 2024

„Portable battery“ according to new Regulation,  means a battery that is sealed, weighs 5 kg or less, is not designed specifically for industrial use and is neither an electric vehicle battery, an LMT battery, nor an SLI battery. THe only difference from the previous meaning is weight limit supplement.

The new concept is implemented, i.e. „portable battery of general use“. It is a portable battery, whether or not rechargeable, that is specifically designed to be interoperable and that has one of the following common formats 4,5 Volts (3R12), button cell, D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, A23, 9 Volts (PP3);

What duties shall be determined by the Regulation for portable batteries?

To make the new duties more comprehensible, we prepared for you „term table“ for portable batteries:

DateNameProvisionMore information:
18.2.2024Restrictions on substancesBatteries shall not contain more than 0,0005 % of mercury by weight (Hg)Annex I.
18.2.2024Restrictions on substancesBatteries shall not contain more than 0,002 % of cadmium by weight. (Cd)Annex I.
18.8.2024State of health, performance and lifetimeNew conformity assessment procedures of batteriesChapter IV.
18.8.2024Restrictions on substancesBatteries shall not contain more than 0,01% of plumbum by weight. (Pb)Annex I.
18.2.2025RecyclingCommission establishes a methodology for recycling efficiency and recovery of materialsArticle 71
18.8.2025Regulation AdministrationCommission establishes an infringements rules for  Regualation abuses 
18.8.2025Due diligence policiesEconomic operators with  net turnover more than  40 mil. EUR fullfil the due diligence obligations placing the batteries on the market or put them into serviceArticle 48  
18.8.2025Regulation AdministrationMember states  designate national (competent) authorities to monitor and verify compliance by producers of batteries and producer responsibility organizations 
18.8.2025MarkingBatteries shall  be marked with the symbol for separate collection of batteriesArticle 13
31.12.2025RecyclingShall be reached the following recycling efficiencies: lead-acid batterie 75%, lithium-based batteries 65%, nickel-cadmium batteries 80%, other waste batteries 50%.Annex XII
1.1.2026Survey of  municipal solid waste a WEEEEach member state shall to carry out a survey of composition of municipal solid waste and WEEE to determine the content of the batteriesArticle 69
18.8.2026RecyclingCommission shall review a revision, if necessary of a recycling efficiency and recovery of materialsArticle 71
18.8.2026MarkingBatteries shall bear a label containing an information about their lifetime in a specific equipment  and a wordphrase non-rechargeableArticle 13
18.8.2026MarkingBatteries shall bear a label containing the general informationArticle 13
18.8.2026MarkingBatteries shall bear a label containing information on their capacity.Article 13
18.2.2027Removability of batteriesMust be assured  removability and a replaceability of batteries built-in the products by the  end-users.Article 11
18.2.2027MarkingBatteries shall be marked with a QR codeArticle 13
18.8.2027CollectionCommission establishes a methodology to calculate the collection rateArticle 59
18.8.2027State of health, performance and lifetimeCommission establishes  the minimum values for the electrochemical performance and durabilityArticle 9
31.12.2027Restrictions on substancesCommission shall prepare a report on substances of concern doubtsArticle 6
31.12.2027RecyclingMust be reached the minimum rate of  recovery materials: Ni, Co, Cu, Pb – 90%, Li – 50%Annex XII
31.12.2027CollectionEfficiency of the collection raises to  63%Article 59
31.12.2027Deposit return systemCommission shall assess the feasibility of deposit return system for batteriesArticle 63
18.8.2028State of health, performance and lifetimeBatteries must meet the minimum values for the electrochemical performance and durabilityArticle 9
31.12.2030RecyclingMust be reached the following recycling efficiency: Pb baterries 80%, lithium-based batteries 70%Annex XII
31.12.2030CollectionEfficiency raised up to 73%Article 59
31.12.2030Carbon footprintCommission consider a possibility publish a carbon footprint certificateArticle 7
31.12.2030Phase out of primary batteriesCommission shall assess the feasibility of measures to phase out non-rechargeable batteriesArticle 9
31.12.2031RecyclingMust be reached the minimum rate of  recovery materials: Ni, Co, Cu, Pb – 95%, Li – 80%Annex XII

The table was created in cooperation with ECOBAT s.r.o.

The full text of the Batteries and Waste Batteries Regulation can be found here.