Brussels, 23/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - A single charger for all mobile phones is about to become a reality. On Thursday 23 January, the European Parliament's internal market committee (IMCO) approved an informal agreement between the institutions on harmonising the rules on telecommunications terminal equipment (see EUROPE 10988). Under this agreement, one single type of charger for all mobile telephones will be authorised within the next three years for mobile telephones, thereby helping to cut down waste and costs for the consumer. Member states will have two years to transpose this harmonised legal rule and manufacturers will have an extra year to meet this requirement.
The harmonisation seeks to ensure that radio equipment such as modems and radios, do not interfere with one another and respect essential health and safety requirements. The agreement also includes better market monitoring. A European Commission-managed European database will help keep track of equipment produced in third countries that does not to comply with European Union requirements. (MD/transl.fl)