Starting Saturday, France enforces a new regulation requiring all electronic devices sold in the country to be equipped with a USB-C charging port. The move aligns with the European Union's directive to standardize chargers across member states, aiming to reduce electronic waste and enhance user convenience. According to Liberacion, starting Saturday, all boxes will systematically include only a USB-C charger, which will be offered separately.
The primary goal of the regulation is to address the substantial amount of electronic waste generated annually. The European Commission estimates that this measure will help avoid 11,000 tons of electronic waste each year, as noted by Ouest-France.
Le Figaro reported that all manufacturers will have to comply with the law.
France's National Frequency Agency (ANFR) will oversee the implementation of the law. The ANFR will verify that manufacturers adhere to the obligations related to the universal charger.
Apple will be impacted by the regulation. According to 20 Minutes, the company will have to discontinue the iPhone SE (2022) and iPhone 14 due to the new law. Historically, Apple's devices utilized proprietary connectors, but the company has started to adapt. Apple eventually conceded by integrating USB-C into its iPhone 15 and 16 models released in 2023 and 2024.
Despite this adaptation, Apple had previously expressed concerns. Liberacion noted that Apple emphasized its "Lightning" technology equipped more than one billion devices worldwide and that the new regulation would "stifle innovation" and even "harm consumers." Two years prior, the company had stated its opposition to the measure while the European text was still under discussion.
20 Minutes reported the new law does not address the case of refurbished devices, and its wording is unclear about the fate of second-hand smartphones. According to Liberacion, French authorities clarified that Ministry of Economy and Finance clarified that if a reconditioned smartphone is not equipped with a USB-C port but has already had a first life in one of the EU countries before December 28, it can still be sold in the EU.
Consumers stand to benefit financially from the regulation. The European Commission estimates that nearly 250 million euros will be saved annually by European consumers, who currently spend about 2.4 billion euros each year on charger purchases.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.