The publication of the Commission’s proposal for a new EU batteries legislation on December 9, is the next step in delivering on the European Strategic Action Plan on Batteries. A major novelty is the shift from a Member State-based Directive (as the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC is) to a Europe-wide Batteries Regulation. Also new shall be additional requirements for social responsibility and environmental sustainability. In total, fourteen new measures are expected to form the basis for the proposal of a new batteries regulation in Europe.
While batteries have already been regulated on a lifecycle basis since 2006 – from chemicals management and product safety, to transport and recycling -, the modernization of the
EU batteries rules now allows policymakers to close important gaps in the existing Batteries Directive and to create more coherence with other EU policy ambitions, too.
For years, RECHARGE has advocated a batteries framework capable of supporting the increasing role of batteries in a climate-neutral society and has called for an effective rescoping of the existing battery directive. Due diligence and carbon intensity were missing in the comprehensive framework regulating batteries as well as important definitions around the topics of equivalent conditions for recycling outside of the EU or end-of-waste to enable second life options for spent batteries.
These measures – and their legislative process – are now being discussed at Member State level (EU Council) and in the European Parliament. As the industry voice for the advanced rechargeable and lithium batteries value chain in Europe, RECHARGE supports the legislative debate with expert knowhow and industry data.
You can also download our policy overview or visit our dedicated Batteries Directive web page: The EU Batteries Regulation.