EU quietly loosens battery rules for wearables

EU carves out an exception for wearables

The European Commission has softened upcoming rules on battery replaceability, carving out an exemption for a broad class of wearable devices — a move that could cover products such as the Apple Watch and Meta’s AI Glasses.

In a delegated act adopted on July 14, the Commission exempted certain wearables from the EU requirement that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by end users.

Instead, their batteries must be replaceable only by independent professionals.

Wet appliances already enjoy a similar exemption, and qualifying wearables are now being added to that list.

What counts as a wearable under the exemption

The Commission defines the affected category as:

Recommended reading

Meta smart glasses got a pro cyclist disqualified

• Smartwatches
• Fitness trackers
• Smart glasses
• Devices integrated into clothing

In its explanatory document [PDF], the Commission argues that ongoing miniaturization creates safety and design constraints around battery access.

It warns that batteries may be “so tightly encapsulated in its receptacle that its removal may create a non-negligible risk of damage or piercing of the battery.”

“Where the nature of the product hinders its redesign (anatomic or ergonomic considerations), it is justified that such small batteries be removable and replaceable only by independent professionals.”

How this fits into the 2027 battery rule

The EU’s broader portable battery regulation comes into force in 2027.

That rule is meant to push device makers — including phone vendors — toward designs where users can open products and swap batteries themselves.

Phones are a partial exception: if they meet specified longevity and IP67 requirements, their batteries can also remain professional-replaceable only.

The policy is framed as a sustainability measure.

Replacing batteries extends device lifespans and makes those batteries easier to recycle, reducing the environmental hit of throwing away hardware when the power pack dies.

Environmental stakes: hardware vs software expiry

The Commission already has rules covering how batteries are sourced, collected, recycled, and repurposed.

But hardware longevity runs into another wall: software.

The US PIRG action group estimates that expiring software or server support has generated 1.7 billion pounds of e-waste over the past decade.

Campaigners have called on the EU to require 15 years of OS updates.

Battery access may be getting easier on paper, but software support remains a looming cutoff point for many devices.

Industry pressure question still unanswered

This battery carve-out is likely to ease compliance headaches for manufacturers of compact, sealed gadgets such as smart glasses and watches.

The Register asked the Commission whether the shift was at least partly driven by industry pressure, but the institution has not yet responded.

The delegated act now goes to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for scrutiny.

Per the Commission, 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.”