Sessioni di controllo
Common Charger
The European Commission has published a report reviewing how the EU's common charger rules are working and whether they should be extended to cover more electronic devices. On 14 July, Members of the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) questioned the Commission on its findings, the evidence behind its assessment and its plans for future legislation. The exchange is part of Parliament's scrutiny of the Commission's work and will help assess whether the current rules remain fit for purpose as technology continues to evolve.
The common charger rules were introduced through the Common Charger Directive, which amended the Radio Equipment Directive. They require many electronic devices sold in the EU to use a USB Type-C charging port, while devices requiring more than 15 watts of power must also support the USB Power Delivery charging standard. The rules also require manufacturers to provide clear information about charging capabilities, allow chargers and devices to be sold separately to reduce unnecessary purchases, and indicate on the packaging whether a charger is included.
The legislation also requires the Commission to monitor market developments, technological progress and the risk of market fragmentation. Based on this assessment, the Commission can propose extending the common charger requirements to additional categories of electronic devices through delegated acts. The aim is to improve compatibility between devices, make charging more convenient for consumers, reduce electronic waste and prevent different charging standards from emerging across the EU market.
Why it matters for you: Using the same charger for more devices means fewer cables, lower costs when replacing or buying new products, and less electronic waste. Parliament's scrutiny also helps ensure that any future expansion of the rules is supported by evidence and delivers real benefits for consumers.
In its report published on 30 June 2026, the Commission found that USB Type-C charging has become widely used for products such as drones, video game controllers and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets. It concludes that extending the common charger requirements to these categories could increase consumer convenience, generate savings and deliver environmental benefits. However, adoption remains limited for products such as electric toothbrushes, remote-controlled toys and wearable devices, suggesting that extending the rules to these products may not yet be appropriate.
During the committee meeting, MEPs examined the Commission's conclusions, questioned whether the evidence justifies expanding the scope of the legislation and discussed how future updates can balance consumer benefits, technological innovation and the practical impact on manufacturers.
Why it matters for businesses: A wider use of common charging standards can reduce product complexity, lower compliance costs, improve interoperability and make it easier for companies to market the same products across the EU. At the same time, businesses will be closely watching any future extension of the rules, as it could require changes to product design, packaging and technical standards.
One Label, One Market: Simplifying EU Rules for Consumers
On 27 January 2026, the IMCO Committee held an exchange of views on “Labelling requirements: How to overcome fragmentation of the Single Market to the benefit of consumers”. The discussion examined the impact of divergent national rules on product labelling, packaging and recycling. Participants highlighted compliance challenges for businesses, barriers to cross-border trade and implications for consumer information within the framework of the Single Market.
EUROPEN described the current regulatory landscape as a "labelling maze", leading to higher production and logistics costs and multiple packaging versions. It argued that unilateral national measures weaken market efficiency and undermine the consumer experience.
ECOS supported EU-level harmonisation while stressing the need for mandatory, accessible on-product information. It called for common pictograms and cautioned against overreliance on digital labelling. MEPs echoed these concerns, emphasising simple, clear physical labels and warning against excessive complexity and exclusive dependence on QR codes.
Meta, Political Ads and the EU: IMCO holds Scrutiny Session
On 16 October 2025, IMCO held a scrutiny session on the Political Advertising Regulation, focusing on compliance with the new rules and an exchange with Meta. Rapporteur Sandro Gozi (Renew) stressed the Regulation’s role in preventing scandals like Cambridge Analytica, enhancing transparency, and protecting sensitive data, while raising concerns over Meta’s decision to suspend political advertising in the EU.