The new EU Battery Regulation

Objectives of the Battery Regulation
The new Battery Regulation should:

• create uniform standards for the entire life cycle of batteries,
• strengthen environmental protection,
• improve the safety of batteries,
• promote resource efficiency and
• support the circular economy (recycling).

At the same time, safety standards will be raised and transparency for consumers increased. In addition, the new regulation replaces the previous requirements of the Battery Directive and gradually replaces the German Battery Act. However, many of the new regulations will have to be implemented by the economic players concerned over the next few years.

Affected companies and obligations of economic operators:
The Battery Regulation is aimed in particular at economic operators who put batteries into operation or place them on the market.

• Manufacturers must ensure that their products comply with the sustainability and safety requirements of the regulation. They are also obliged to label batteries properly and inform consumers about their properties and recycling options.
• Importers and distributors must ensure that the batteries they import or distribute comply with the sustainability and safety requirements of the regulation and are disposed of properly when they reach the end of their service life. Just like manufacturers, importers and distributors must also ensure that batteries are labeled accordingly and that the essential information is made available.
• The regulation requires consumers to responsibly use and dispose of batteries. This also includes the proper return of batteries for reuse or recycling.

Due diligence obligations
The regulation also sets out specific due diligence obligations for companies with a net turnover of at least EUR 40 million in the financial year before last with regard to the raw materials in the batteries and the control and transparency of the supply chain. This includes the establishment of a management system in which the potential negative effects of social and environmental risks are assessed.

Conclusion
Affected companies will face increased responsibility and possible changes to their production and supply chain processes as a result of the new EU Battery Regulation. In order to implement the far-reaching due diligence obligations in a legally secure manner and to ensure that their products meet the new requirements, the importance of setting up a compliance management system must be particularly emphasized.

Our services

Our compliance management software Eticor and our update service ensure that you are always aware of all legal requirements and updates that affect your company. Thus, you are always up-to-date in the compliance area. By translating complex legal requirements into easy-to-understand tasks, your employees will always act in a compliant manner and will know exactly what needs to be done and when.

For Eticor customers

Should the new tasks be relevant for your company, your project manager will promptly update your individual legal register and automatically make the new tasks available to you in Eticor.