In July 2023, a new EU battery regulation (Regulation 2023/1542) was approved by the EU. The aim of the regulation is to create a harmonized legislation for the sustainability and safety of batteries.
Starting in 2024, manufacturers, importers, and distributors must comply with new requirements covering CE marking, digital battery passports, recycled content, and traceability. In this guide, TÜV SÜD helps you navigate the key regulatory changes and deadlines to ensure full compliance and seize the opportunities of a greener market.
The regulation introduces new battery categories, including portable, industrial, automotive, electric vehicle (EV), and light means of transport (LMT) batteries. Each category has specific requirements and regulations.
Manufacturers will be required to affix the CE marking to batteries before placing them on the market or putting them into service, starting from August 18, 2024. The CE marking indicates compliance with EU safety, health, and environmental protection requirements. Notified bodies may be involved in granting the CE marking for certain types of batteries.
From February 18, 2027, LMT, EV, and industrial batteries with a capacity greater than 2 kWh must be electronically registered with a battery passport carrying an identification QR code and CE marking. This passport will include information specific to the batteries and their sustainability requirements, providing data on battery handling instructions and state of health to recycling operators and repurposing efforts.
The regulation includes provisions for calculating the carbon footprint of batteries and setting recycled content targets for various elements (cobalt, lead, lithium, nickel). These requirements will start to apply from August 18, 2024, with delegated acts and implementation acts specifying methodologies for calculation.
The regulation mandates that portable batteries should be easily removable and replaceable by end-users, while LMT, EV, and industrial batteries should be easily removable and replaceable by independent professionals. This requirement will be enforced from February 18, 2027.
Safety testing requirements are introduced, but they apply only to stationary battery energy storage systems (SBESS).
Producers and producer responsibility organizations (PROs) must adopt and communicate a due diligence policy for batteries. They are also required to establish management systems to support due diligence policies, identify and assess risks in the supply chain, and design strategies to address identified risks. Third-party verification by a notified body is necessary. The due diligence obligation comes into effect from August 18, 2025.
The regulation sets recycling efficiency targets and material recovery targets for specific elements in recycling and treatment facilities for batteries. These targets will apply from December 31, 2027.
Requirements for information and labeling include a battery passport, specific labeling (chemistry, lifetime, charging capacity, collection, hazardous substances, safety risks), electronic databases, and second life data sets. These requirements aim to enhance information and traceability.
The regulation addresses the shipment of waste batteries outside the EU.
Reporting obligations are introduced, and there are specific deadlines for implementing various aspects of the regulation, with certain requirements coming into effect in different phases from 2024 to 2028. The applicability of these provisions varies depending on the battery type, and the regulation seeks to promote transparency, sustainability, and responsibility throughout the battery supply chain.
Manufacturers, importers, and other stakeholders will need to comply with these new requirements and deadlines, with some aspects requiring third-party verification and delegated acts to specify methodologies and calculations. TÜV SÜD can assist manufacturers in evaluating, testing, and certifying batteries to ensure compliance with safety, performance, and sustainability standards.
The applicability of these provisions varies depending on the battery type, and the regulation seeks to promote transparency, sustainability, and responsibility throughout the battery supply chain. Manufacturers, importers, and other stakeholders will need to comply with these new requirements and deadlines, with some aspects requiring third-party verification and delegated acts to specify methodologies and calculations.
Our EV battery solutions teams at TÜV SÜD in Auburn Hills, MI can assist manufacturers in evaluating, testing, and certifying batteries to ensure compliance with safety, performance, and sustainability standards.
For more detailed information, and how TÜV SÜD can help, please complete the form to download our White Paper.
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