Batteries: EU proposes simpler removability and replacement rules

As part of its broader simplification agenda, the European Commission is also assessing possible adjustments to the removability and replaceability requirements under the EU Battery Regulation. According to a Commission reply to the European Parliament, additional derogations for certain product categories are being considered in order to address technical and design constraints identified during implementation.

The discussion relates to Article 11 of the Battery Regulation adopted in 2023, which sets out requirements for the removability and replaceability of portable batteries. Among the options under consideration is a shift from cell-level to module-level replaceability in specific applications, allowing batteries to be replaced at a higher assembly level.

The Commission plans to adopt a delegated act in the second quarter of 2026 to supplement Article 11 to implement the changes. In parallel, the file is being discussed as part of the wider Omnibus simplification package, with the aim of concluding the legislative process by the end of 2026. However, discussions in the Council are proving lengthy, as the Omnibus is being debated as one package.

In the European Parliament, the file is currently awaiting further consideration in the Environment Committee (ENVI), which is leading on the dossier. On 24 March, Susana Solís Pérez (EPP, Spain) was appointed as rapporteur, and her draft report is expected to be presented in one of the coming ENVI meetings – marking the next step in the parliamentary process.

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