Uniform charging cables are becoming mandatory in Germany

The chaos on the charging cable market will soon come to an end. The federal government has implemented an EU directive, thanks to which most electrical devices will soon have to have a USB-C port as a charging cable.

The new regulation, which the federal government has now implemented, will apply as early as December. By then at the latest, newly sold smartphones, tablets, etc. must have a charging cable with a USB-C port.

To this end, the federal government has decided to change the Radio Equipment Act. The basis for the change in the law is an EU directive from last year.

Why will all charging cables soon have a USB-C port?

Two central points are crucial for the introduction of standardized charging cables. On the one hand, the change is intended to make things easier for consumers. In the future, you will no longer have to have different charging cables for different devices.

But environmental protection and the protection of resources also play a crucial role in this change in the law. For example, if an old smartphone has no longer served its purpose, the cable can be reused for a new – or different – ​​device in the future. This should also reduce the amount of electronic waste.

Consumers will have a choice in the future

For example, if you buy a new smartphone after the change in the law is introduced, a new charging cable will no longer necessarily be included.

In the future, consumers should have the choice of whether they want to buy a new cable with a new device. If you don’t need this, you can simply continue to use your old, existing cables.

To which devices does the new regulation not apply?

But unfortunately the change in the law does not apply as comprehensively as some consumers might wish. Wirelessly chargeable devices such as some headphones are excluded. These do not necessarily have to have a USB port.

There won’t be any relief from cable clutter on the notebook market very soon either. Because the USB-C connection will only be considered mandatory here from 2026.

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