The Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation introducing new rules that exempt additional products from EU requirements on the removability and replaceability of portable batteries. Under the Batteries Regulation, portable batteries in products sold in the EU must generally be removable and replaceable by consumers. The new exemptions apply to specific product categories such as medical devices and 'wet appliances' (e.g., electric toothbrushes, water flossers) where technical or safety considerations justify derogations from the standard requirements.
The European Commission launched a public consultation on a draft delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to add additional product categories to the list exempted from the general requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by end-users. The consultation references examples such as wearable devices, electric toys, and certain equipment within scope of the ATEX Directive. If adopted, these exemptions would affect product design/engineering choices and repairability obligations for products containing portable batteries, and may influence related end-of-life handling expectations. Consultation closes 26 May 2026.
The European Commission is seeking stakeholder views on a proposed Delegated Act that would add six new product categories to the list of exemptions from portable battery removability and replaceability requirements under Article 11 of the EU Batteries Regulation. Proposed exemptions include wearable devices (smartwatches and fitness trackers), electric toys, and products within the scope of the ATEX Directive (equipment for explosive atmospheres such as explosion-proof motors, sensors, pumps, and forklift trucks). Under the Regulation, portable batteries must generally be removable and replaceable by consumers; exempted products only require removability by independent professionals. Comments are due by May 26, 2026.
The European Commission opened a public consultation on draft rules (planned as a delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) to add additional product categories to the list of exemptions from the general requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by consumers. The Commission also signaled it intends to update existing removability/replaceability guidelines to reflect the new derogations. Compliance teams should assess whether their product portfolio may qualify for (or be affected by) the proposed exemptions and consider submitting feedback during the consultation period.
The European Commission launched a public consultation on draft delegated rules that would add additional product categories to the exemption list from the EU Battery Regulation’s general requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by consumers. Where exempted, batteries would generally need to be removable/replaceable by independent professionals instead. The consultation is relevant for product design, repairability, and technical documentation strategies for affected product categories (e.g., wearables, electric toys, ATEX-scope equipment). Stakeholders should review whether their products may fall within the proposed exemptions and consider submitting feedback via the Commission consultation portal before the consultation closes (deadline referenced in the Commission materials: 26 May 2026).
The European Commission opened a stakeholder consultation on a draft delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to add additional product categories to the list of exemptions from the general requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by consumers. The draft would allow certain exempted products (e.g., some wearables, electric toys, and certain ATEX-related products) to require removability/replaceability by independent professionals instead. The consultation signals a potential future change to product design/compliance strategy for manufacturers placing covered products on the EU market and may be accompanied by updates to existing Commission guidelines on removability/replaceability.
The European Commission launched a public consultation on a draft delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 that would add additional product categories to the list of exemptions from the general requirement that portable batteries incorporated into products be removable and replaceable by consumers. If adopted, products in the newly exempted categories could shift from consumer removability/replaceability to professional-only removal/replaceability, impacting product design choices, user instructions, technical documentation and conformity strategies for manufacturers and importers. The Commission’s consultation also signals that related removability/replaceability guidance may be updated to reflect any new derogations. Feedback is requested by 26 May 2026 (deadline referenced in the research text).
The European Commission (DG ENV) launched a public consultation on a delegated act under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to expand the list of product categories exempted from the general requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by end-users (instead allowing removal by independent professionals). If adopted, this would affect product design/repairability and compliance documentation for the newly covered product categories, potentially reducing consumer-removability obligations for those products while still requiring professional removability.
In the European Commission’s 2025 Safety Gate (rapid alert system) report press release, the Commission highlights toys as a key product category in alerts and explicitly references the new Toy Safety Regulation as part of the EU’s strengthened enforcement toolkit (including messaging that it bans harmful chemicals in toys and strengthens authority powers). While not an amendment to Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, this signals enforcement focus and increased market surveillance attention that compliance teams should consider for EU market monitoring, online listing controls, and readiness for inspections/requests.
The European Commission’s 2025 Safety Gate Report (press release PDF) highlights that toys represented 16% of Safety Gate alerts in 2025 and explicitly references the new Toy Safety Regulation as strengthening authorities’ powers and banning harmful chemicals in toys. While this does not amend Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, it is a compliance-relevant enforcement signal for toy manufacturers/importers and online sellers regarding market surveillance priorities and scrutiny of unsafe/hazardous-chemical-related noncompliance.
An official Commission document (draft/notification) proposes amendments to Implementing Decision C(2022) 7410 concerning the standardisation request for toy safety harmonised standards. The draft indicates planned changes including extending the overall request timeframe and CEN/CENELEC final reporting deadlines (e.g., to 30 June 2029) and adding/adjusting standardisation deliverables, such as work on microbiological safety for toys with accessible aqueous media (referenced as a new EN 71-20 deliverable in the draft) and updates to electric toy standard work (EN IEC 62115) addressing light/LED emission risks. For compliance teams, this signals forthcoming changes in the harmonised standards roadmap that will underpin presumption of conformity during the transition from the Directive regime and preparation for the new Regulation’s standards ecosystem; monitoring is warranted for adoption and subsequent OJ harmonisation citations.
The European Commission adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/76 (12 Jan 2026; published 14 Jan 2026) under Article 7(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/590. The decision updates the list of undertakings/installations authorised to use ozone-depleting substances (ODS) as process agents, and sets/updates the annual maximum “make-up” quantities and annual maximum emission thresholds per undertaking (in Annex I, which is treated as commercially sensitive and not reproduced in the published PDF text). It also requires undertakings to notify the Commission and the relevant Member State competent authority within 3 months if an installation is decommissioned, and it repeals Commission Decision 2010/372/EU. Compliance teams using ODS as process agents should verify whether their installation remains listed/authorised, align internal controls with any updated maxima/thresholds, and ensure decommissioning-notification procedures meet the 3-month requirement.
EASA highlighted an end-of-year compliance milestone under the EU Ozone Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/590, Article 9 and Annex V): as of 31 December 2025, any in-service aircraft registered in the EU or operated by an EU-registered operator must be equipped with halon-free portable fire extinguishers (cabin and crew compartments). EASA also notes that any derogations must be requested by a Member State competent authority to the European Commission (operators cannot apply directly). Compliance teams in aviation should confirm fleet retrofits, approved extinguisher specifications, and documentation demonstrating halon-free replacement to avoid non-compliance after the milestone date.
The European Commission announced that the new EU Toy Safety Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/2509) enters into force on 1 January 2026 and will apply from 1 August 2030 after a transition period. The Commission communication highlights major compliance impacts including strengthened chemical safety provisions (hazard-based approach to restricting hazardous substances in toys, with examples such as endocrine disruptors, respiratory harmful chemicals, skin sensitizers, STOT-type hazards; mentions PFAS and bisphenols) and a mandatory Digital Product Passport concept to support market surveillance and customs checks (notably for imports and online sales). Compliance teams should align product design, chemical/material controls, technical documentation, and supply-chain data readiness to the 2030 application date while tracking any forthcoming implementing details.
European Commission communications confirm that Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 (Toy Safety Regulation) replaces Directive 2009/48/EC and entered into force on 1 January 2026, with the new rules applicable from 1 August 2030 following a transition period. The Regulation framework highlights strengthened chemical safety controls (including references to PFAS and bisphenols in Commission messaging) and introduces a mandatory Digital Product Passport (DPP) for toys to support traceability and enforcement (including for imports and online sales). Compliance teams should align product compliance roadmaps, technical documentation/data readiness, and supply-chain data collection to the 2030 applicability milestone and DPP readiness.
The European Commission announced that the new Toy Safety Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/2509, enters into force on 1 January 2026 and will apply from 1 August 2030 following a transition period. The Regulation replaces the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC and introduces strengthened toy safety requirements highlighted by the Commission, including stronger chemical safety provisions (e.g., expanded approach to banning hazardous substances, including endocrine disruptors and other hazard classes, and references to PFAS and bisphenols) and a mandatory Digital Product Passport (DPP) to support market surveillance, including checks for imported and online-sold toys. Compliance teams should plan for the transition timeline, prepare product documentation/data for DPP readiness, and assess chemical compliance implications under the new framework ahead of the 2030 application date.
Commission Communication C(2025) 8950 establishes the Battery Booster Strategy to support the European battery industry. Includes €1.5 billion Battery Booster Facility from the Innovation Fund providing interest-free loans to battery cell producers during ramp-up phase. Reinforces that waste lithium-ion batteries and black mass will be classified as hazardous waste from December 2026, with exports to non-OECD countries prohibited thereafter.
The European Commission published a legislative proposal (COM(2025) 981) to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The proposal would (among other changes) clarify the producer definition to cover sellers established outside a Member State irrespective of selling technique, add precision to hazardous-substance labelling scope by referencing SVHC concepts under REACH/CLP, adjust removability/replaceability expectations for LMT battery packs to module level (rather than cell level) for safety/repairability balance, and streamline certain Commission reporting obligations related to Member State waste-battery data quality. This is not yet adopted; compliance teams should track the legislative process because the amendments could change producer/EPR scoping, labelling interpretation, and design-for-removal obligations for LMT batteries.
The European Commission published COM(2025) 981 final (proposal) to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (and also references amendments involving Regulation (EU) 2024/1244) aiming to simplify and clarify certain requirements and reduce administrative burden. The research notes examples including clarifications to the producer definition for cross-border selling, refinements to SVHC labelling scope, adjustments related to LMT battery removability/replaceability approach, and removal of certain redundant Commission reporting. Compliance teams should monitor this proposal because it may change how obligations are interpreted or applied if adopted.
The European Commission issued COM(2025) 981, a proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The research summary indicates the proposal would clarify the definition of “producer” (including non-established sellers regardless of sales technique), adjust the approach for removability/replaceability for LMT battery packs (module vs. cell-level), and clarify/simplify aspects of hazardous substance / substances-of-concern labelling (including reference to SVHCs). If adopted, these changes could affect producer responsibility determinations, product design/serviceability expectations for certain battery types, and compliance documentation/label content requirements.