Brussels, 29/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 29 June, the major producers of mobile phones submitted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the European Commission in which they undertake to ensure that all mobile phone chargers are compatible. This will not only make life easier for consumers, its will all reduce electronic waste, since there will ne no need to discard the old charger when changing mobile, the Commission says. Commissioner Günter Verheugen, who has responsibility for enterprise and industrial policy, welcomed the voluntary initiative that means the Commission will not have to prepare a legislative proposal on this issue as it had intended to do if the companies concerned had been loathe to take action themselves. “I am also very pleased that this solution was found on the basis of self-regulation. As a result, the Commission does not consider it necessary to introduce legislation,” he said. The first generation of mobiles with compatible chargers should be in EU shops from 2010.
There is, today, a veritable plethora of chargers for mobile phones in the EU, with many only charging a specific mobile phone. Consumers who buy a new mobile have to throw away their old, now useless, charger. This is a situation that is very harmful to the environment: discarded charges represent several thousands of tons of waste a year. Following intensive negotiations with the Commission, at its express request, 10 companies (Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research in Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments), who together account for 90% of the chargers market, have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of a common charger, that will be able to be used with all phones and that uses less electricity. In future, life will be easier for mobile phone users, since it will be easier to charge batteries and they will save money when they buy a new mobile since they will not have to purchase a specific charger. The number of chargers will, therefore, be reduced and this will, in turn, bring down the quantity of industrial waste. The MoU will be accompanied by a new EU standard which will ensure the safe use of new mobile phones as well as avoidance of radio interference problems. In the agreement, the manufacturers undertake to make chargers compatible by using the Micro-USB connector which will serve as the interface with the charging unit. The MoU does not preclude innovation in the fast moving mobile phone market, fixing a certain technology forever. Therefore, when the time comes, the MoU will adapt to future charging technologies, the Commission says.
In a press release, MEP, Malcolm Harbour (EPP-ED, UK) welcomes this “common sense” move. “This is a simple agreement that will have an extremely positive impact on users' lives. We will no longer have to worry about forgetting our chargers and having to ask around to find one that is compatible”. He offered his warm congratulations to the Commission for managing to reach agreement with the industry without having to resort to new legislation. (I.L./transl.rt)