The European Commission has opened a public consultation on harmonised label rules for batteries, which closed on 26 January. This initiative is part of the implementation of the EU Batteries Regulation, and the implementing regulation will focus on providing further details on creating harmonised and consistent labels for all battery types.
The draft implementing regulation sets out harmonised specifications for how existing battery labelling requirements must be presented across the EU. It defines a common format and layout for labels and specifies the information that must be displayed, including disclosure of hazardous substances and the presence of certain critical raw materials above defined thresholds. Depending on the battery category, additional information must be shown, such as capacity and carbon footprint performance class for specific battery types, in line with the relevant delegated acts. To ensure consistency and legibility, the regulation lays down detailed design, font, and layout requirements, among others.
Free4Lib’s mission is deeply connected to transparency, circularity, and sustainability in recycling priorities to be strengthened by harmonised battery labelling. Clear harmonised labels provide critical information on a battery’s chemistry and composition. This is essential for sorting, dismantling, and selecting the most appropriate recycling processes, echoing Free4Lib’s focus on recovery and reuse.
Furthermore, the draft rules anticipate digital access to detailed battery information through QR codes. This complements the Free4Lib work on the digital product passport, which is an important step toward smarter recycling and resource management.
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