Batteries

EU Regulation 1542/2023 (concerning batteries and waste batteries) was published on 12 July 2023 and has applied from 18 February 2024.

Provisions for the management of waste batteries (including EPR) under the Regulation 1542/2023 have applied from from 18 August 2025, repealing those of the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC.

Under EU Regulation 1542/2023 EPR requirements, producers must:

Register as a producer and report compliance data, including batteries placed-on-the-market data; and
Implement and finance arrangements for the collection and treatment of waste batteries.

These obligations apply on an EU Member State level, and as a regulation, they apply automatically without the need for implementing national legislation.

How a producer complies depends on the battery type they are placing on the country market. Regulation 1542/2023 expanded the list of battery types from those that were included in Directive 2006/66/EC.

All requirements equally apply to batteries and accumulators that are integrated into electrical appliances.

Portable batteries

There is a reliance on approved Producer Compliance Schemes (PCSs) to manage with collection and recycling of portable batteries

Compliance schemes that are approved by the relevant authorities are available for producers to transfer their registration, reporting, collection and treatment obligations to in almost every country. Producers comply ‘collectively’ with other producers through a scheme, which coordinates the collection and treatment of deposited portable batteries on behalf of its members, in return for fees. For example, portable batteries deposited at local municipal collection points, or handed over by distributors and retailers.

There is often more than one scheme available, sometimes each with different battery type scopes and usually with different fees, costs and administrative steps. EARN can help your company join a suitable PCS for your portable batteries and manage all associated administration.