EPS Regulation 2025/2052 (NEW)

Introduction

New ecodesign requirements apply as of 14th December 2028 for 

• External power supplies (EPS),
• Battery chargers for portable batteries of general use,
• Wireless chargers and wireless charging pads, and
• USB Type-C cables.

External Power Supplies (EPS) are stand-alone devices used to convert AC voltage and supply electricity to, or charge built-in batteries of electronic and electric devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, electric tooth brushes, electric shavers, wireless routers, computer monitors etc. Where the end product operates with a battery, the EPS is often denoted as “charger”.

The ecodesign requirements applicable to EPS prioritise key areas such as energy efficiency, power output performance, interoperability, surge resistibility, and information provision. This marks a shift from the previous ecodesign regulation which was restricted to EPS below a certain output power and those used with specific categories of household  appliances.

This Regulation covers also so-called adaptive EPS which can automatically adjust the output voltage at certain preset levels, depending on the requirements of the powered product, which makes them suitable to be used with different devices. 

Finally, it requires that all EPS are fitted by default with at least one USB Type-C or USB Power Delivery (USB PD) port and are marked with a distinct “Common Charger” logo. Certain EPS are exempt from this rule like for example those used with an electric tooth-brush or a vacuum cleaner. This requirement intends to simplify charging and power supply solutions across different devices and brands, ultimately reducing electronic waste and improving consumers’ convenience.

Battery chargers for portable batteries of general use are devices used to charge small stand-alone rechargeable batteries like for example AA or AAA. This Regulation applies only to those chargers which are not plugged directly into a wall socket and focuses on ensuring their compatibility with the Common Charger to reduce the number of chargers required.

Wireless chargers use electromagnetic fields to transfer energy to the built-in battery of consumer products like mobile phones, smart-watches or electric toothbrushes. If used with EPS they are denoted here as wireless charging pads. This Regulation sets limits for their standby power consumption, i.e. when plugged in but not actively charging a device, and requires compatibility with the Common Charger to reduce the number of cables and chargers consumers need.

USB Type-C cables which are fitted with USB Type-C plugs at both ends must meet the official USB specifications, including an electrical resistance limit and a maximally allowed voltage drop across the cable. This Regulation requires any USB Type-C cable to be marked at its plugs with its power rating, either 60W or 240W, so that users can select the appropriate cable for their devices’ power needs.

Scope

The following table shows the main products in and out of the scope of the Ecodesign Regulation:

Check the complete list in the Regulation (EU) 2025/2052.

Ecodesign Requirements

1.Energy Efficiency Requirements

• Minimum efficiency and maximum no-load power consumption limits for EPS;
• Standby power consumption limits for wireless chargers and charging pads;
• Updated testing rules for EPS, in particular for adaptive EPS.

2.Power Output Performance Requirements

• Limitation of the EPS output voltage drop under load.

 3.Interoperability Requirements

• Common Charger requirements;
• Common Charger exemptions;
• USB Type-C ports and cables requirements;
• Requirements for:

                    a) Battery chargers for portable batteries of general use;

                    b) Wireless chargers and wireless charging pads;

4.Surge resistibility requirements for interoperable EPS

• Common chargers ability to operate after a surge (lightning) test; 

5.Information Requirements

• EPS nameplate information;
• Free access website of the manufacturer;
• Common Charger logo;
• Port marking for Common Chargers;
• USB Type-C cables marking;

Check the complete set of Ecodesign Requirements in the Regulation (EU) 2025/2052.

Impacts

• Each year over 400 million EPS are sold in the EU. They supply electricity to electronic and electric end-devices such as laptops, smartphones, wireless routers and electric toothbrushes.
• The main benefits that are expected from this measure are lower energy use, both during use and in manufacture, and associated with that, lower greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions.
• Less material will be used both in the manufacture of EPS, as a result of greater EPS reuse, and from combustion of fuel to generate electricity.
• In quantitative terms, the measure  is expected to make annual savings of  around 3% of EPS lifecycle energy consumption by 2035 (corresponding to the energy used in 1 year by around 140 000 electric cars), 9% of related GHG emissions and around 13% of related pollutant emissions.
• The benefits will come at a reduction in consumer expenditure of around €100m per year by 2035.
• The interoperability requirements will lead to a considerable increase in consumer convenience that, if monetised, is estimated to deliver additional benefits to consumers of a comparable order of magnitude.
• The measure is expected to lead to additional 35 to 40% of the EU EPS market becoming interoperable on top of the approximately 50% that are currently assumed to be as a result of the Radio Equipment Directive.

Commission staff working document impact assessment report

The Common Charger logo

The ‘Common Charger’ is an EPS which must have among other things at least one USB Type-C or USB-PD port and no hard-wired USB Type-C cables. This Regulation requires any EPS to be by default a Common Charger unless it fulfills certain exemption criteria.

Each Common Charger must display a logo on its nameplate or housing, as well as its packaging and instruction manual. It cannot be less than 5 mm in height on a nameplate or not less then 7 mm otherwise. The power value on the logo represents the maximum power that a single USB Type-C port can provide (45 W are used here for illustration only).

The logo can be displayed (printed, etched, engraved etc.) on any background colour while there are three colour designs with usage rules and colours specified by the Regulation. 

Coloured positive: this is the main colour design can be used with any background colour. 

Coloured negative: this alternative colour design may be used on dark backgrounds – noting that the blue background shown here is only for the sake of visibility and illustration.

Monochrome: If the logo support (nameplate, housing, packaging or instruction manual) is monochrome (single colour), the text and symbols of the logo may use that colour, like for example in the following designs – noting that the background colours shown here are only for the sake of visibility and illustration. The first design can be for example used in a typical black and white instruction manual.

Download Area

Before downloading or generating a logo please read the following Common Charger logo - Dos and dont's

The following files and formats are available here for download in all colour designs*: 

• Editable SVG and EPS vector graphic files to generate logos with custom power values;  

  Instructions for Editing the vector file

• Editable powerpoint file (ppt) to generate logos with custom power values, including instructions to generate PNG files;

• Pre-generated SVG, EPS and PDF* files for Common Chargers with the following power values:  

  5W, 7.5W, 10W, 15W, 18W, 20W, 30W, 40W, 45W, 60W, 65W, 100W, 140W, 180W, 240W; 

  *The PDF files are only available in the the colour-positive and monochrome (black) logo designs.

_{DISCLAIMER:  Please note that the application of the provided guidance and logos is the sole responsibility of the user. The European Commission cannot provide a legally binding interpretation of the EU legislation, as this is the sole competence of the European Court of Justice. Any guidance from the European Commission services is without prejudice to the position the Commission might take should related cases arise in a procedure before the Court of Justice.}