20/12/2024 (Agence Europe) – From this 28 December, all small and medium-sized electronic devices sold in the European Union will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port for recharging, in accordance with the European directive of 23 November 2022. The aim of this measure is to harmonise charging cables in order to reduce their number and environmental impact. According to the European Commission, unused and discarded chargers account for 11,000 tonnes of electronic waste every year in Europe. The devices concerned include mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, cameras, headsets, headphones, games consoles, speakers, reading devices, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems. Laptops will have to comply with these regulations by 26 April 2026. This initiative is part of the European Union's 'Digital and Environment' strategy, which aims to “reduce the ecological footprint of electronic equipment and promote the circular economy”. (IS)