How the new 2024-25 EU legislation on chargers will affect you
Find out more about the EU Common Charger Directive.
Overview
The EU Common Charger Directive applies to European Union (EU) countries and Northern Ireland. To prevent restrictions on your listings, ensure you comply with this regulation for new and used products.
EU Common Charger Directive
The EU Common Charger Directive (CCD) aims at harmonising charging interfaces and capabilities for a range of portable electronic devices. This allows consumers to charge their electronic devices with any USB-C cable regardless of the respective device brand.
Additionally, consumers should have the option to buy electronic devices without a charger. This directive aims to decrease the number of chargers purchased, ultimately reducing electronic waste and unnecessary costs.
To ensure consumers can make informed choices, manufacturers and business sellers are also required to provide additional information through a new pictogram and label:
- Pictogram (left): indicates if a charger is included with the product or not
- Label (right): indicates the charging capability of the product in Watts, and if it is USB-PD (Fast charging) compatible.
Starting from 28 December 2024, the pictogram and label must be included on the packaging of certain electronic devices that are offered or sold on the EU and Northern Ireland markets for the first time, and displayed on your eBay listings for those products.
Listings that don’t meet these standards may be hidden until they have the required information added.
Starting 28 April 2026, laptops (i.e. any portable computers, including laptops, notebooks, ultraportables, hybrids or convertibles and netbooks) will be subject to the same requirements.
Note: The directive mostly applies to new products, however it is also applicable to used products, if they are first placed in the EU and Northern Ireland markets after 28 December 2024.
This information provides an overview of the new EU regulations on common chargers. Please consider that additional requirements may apply to your listings, based on local laws. Sellers are encouraged to stay informed and, if needed, consult a legal advisor to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.
Please note that the EU Common Charger Directive requires national implementation, so specific local requirements may vary. We’re here to help answer questions about listing and selling on eBay; for specific legal advice, please consult a professional.
Would you like to learn more about regulations that may affect you? Visit our regulatory guide.