After a 6-month transitional period, the new Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) will apply in the EU from February 18, 2024. This regulates the sustainable procurement and processing of raw materials, battery cell production and the reuse and recycling of batteries. The background to this is the increased demand for batteries due to electromobility, among other things. In line with the EU action plan for the circular economy (“Green Deal”) and the EU industrial strategy, the previous Directive 2006/66/EC was therefore repealed and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 was amended.

In the new EU Battery Regulation, batteries are now divided into four categories:

• Starter batteries (starter, lighting, ignition)
• Industrial batteries (energy storage, mobilization of electric vehicles)
• Batteries for light means of transportation (e-bikes, e-scooters)
• Device batteries

A digital battery passport will be introduced for electric vehicle batteries, batteries for light vehicles and rechargeable industrial batteries with a capacity of > 2 kWh. In addition to the previous specifications on labeling and information requirements, information on the CO2 footprint, recyclate content and life cycle will also be documented.

Consumers must be able to easily remove and replace portable batteries themselves, while independent experts must be able to do this for batteries for light vehicles.

In addition, a due diligence strategy applies to battery manufacturers with a turnover of more than 40 million euros per year (exception: SMEs). This is intended to combat human rights violations, for example.