On 9 December, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal to strengthen sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries (EU Batteries Regulation). The Regulation will apply to all batteries, including all waste portable batteries, electric vehicle batteries, industrial batteries, starting, lightning and ignition (SLI) batteries and batteries for light means of transport.
Concretely, the agreed text includes the following additions:
Targets for producers to collect waste portable batteries (63% by the end of 2027 and 73% by the end of 2030), and a dedicated collection objective for waste batteries for light means of transport (51% by the end of 2028 and 61% by the end of 2031).
Mandatory minimum levels of recycled content for industrial, SLI batteries and EV batteries. These are initially set at 16% for cobalt, 85% for lead, 6% for lithium and 6% for nickel. The regulation sets an obligation for batteries to hold a recycled content documentation.
Recycling efficiency target for nickel-cadmium batteries of 80% by 2025 and other waste batteries of 50% by 2025.
Due diligence rules for operators to verify the source of raw materials used for batteries placed on the market. The deal provides for an exemption for SMEs.
Labelling and information requirements, among other things on the battery's components and recycled content, and an electronic “battery passport” and a QR code.
The new regulation will replace the current batteries directive of 2006 and complete the existing legislation, particularly in terms of waste management.
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