The latest directive on lithium batteries

On July 1, 2023, the European Union (EU) introduced the new EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542, replacing the previous Batteries Directive that had been in place since 2006.

Guide
Jul 12, 2025

Understanding the new EU Battery Regulation

The new EU Battery Regulation, Regulation 2023/1542, introduces significant changes and requirements aimed at enhancing the sustainability and safety of batteries and battery-operated products. (cobalt, lead, lithium, nickel). These requirements will start to apply from August 18, 2024, with delegated acts and implementation acts specifying

Guide
Dec 03, 2025

Understanding the Batteries Regulation

To minimise the environmental impacts of this growth and considering changes in society, new technological developments, markets and the uses of batteries, the European Commission proposed a new Batteries Regulation in 2020. The Regulation entered into force on 17 August 2023 and repeals the Batteries Directive (Directive 2006/66/EC).

Guide
Sep 18, 2025

EUROBAT Position on the Batteries Directive

on the review of the Batteries Directive and of the End-of-life Vehicles Directive, and it is also preparing a new proposal to produce batteries in a more sustainable way, in the framework of the European Battery Alliance initiative. We believe that this is the occasion to finally develop a coherent legislative framework on batteries: to this

Guide
Apr 25, 2026

Council adopts new regulation on batteries and waste batteries

The new rules will promote the competitiveness of European industry and ensure new batteries are sustainable and contribute to the green transition. The regulation sets a target for lithium recovery from waste batteries of 50% by the end of 2027 and 80% The new regulation will replace the current batteries directive of 2006 and complete

Guide
Aug 28, 2025

New EU Batteries Regulation: what it means for manufacturers

In contrast to the previous EU Batteries Directive, the new EU Batteries Regulation sets out ambitious requirements covering the entire lifecycle – and the second life, which includes repair, remanufacturing, recycling, and reusing – of different types of batteries. While some of the obligations are transferred from the current regime of

Guide
Apr 28, 2026

New EU Batteries Regulation: introducing enhanced sustainability

A new batteries regulation will impact the design, production and waste management of all types of batteries manufactured or sold in the European Union. The new rules extend producer responsibility and require due diligence of supply chains to assess social and environmental risks, with a key focus on the supply of cobalt, natural graphite, lithium and

Guide
May 31, 2026

Council adopts new regulation on batteries and waste

The regulation sets a target for lithium recovery from waste batteries of 50% by the end of 2027 and 80% by the end of 2031, which can be amended through delegated acts depending on market and technological

Guide
Jun 14, 2026

EU Regulation on Sustainable Batteries: Key highlights and how

On 10 July 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted the new Regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries (EU) 2023/1542 (the "Batteries Regulation"). The proposal was designed to replace the Battery Directive that regulates the sustainability of batteries in the EU today. sets a target for lithium recovery from waste

Guide
Nov 28, 2025

EU Battery Regulation: Navigating the New Rules and

The new regulation, which replaces the 2006 Battery Directive, is designed to manage the entire lifecycle of batteries—from design and manufacturing to recycling and disposal. This regulation matters now more

Guide
Mar 17, 2026

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE BATTERIES DIRECTIVE

1. A NEW BATTERIES DIRECTIVE – A NEW SCOPE Why did we need a new Directive on batteries? Previous Community legislation on batteries (Directive 91/157/EEC) has failed to adequately control the risks posed by batteries in the waste stream and to create a homogeneous framework for battery collection and recycling.

Guide
Sep 16, 2025

Battery Directive Guide for EU Importers: An Overview

The Battery Directive states that batteries and accumulators that contain more than 0.0005% by weight of mercury or mercury compounds are prohibited to be placed in the EU market. Mercury batteries were once

Guide
May 04, 2026

EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542)

The Battery Passport will become mandatory for LMT batteries, industrial batteries exceeding 2 kWh, and EV batteries placed on the market from 18 February 2027. The passport must include details about the battery model

Guide
Feb 09, 2026

EU battery regulations: what do the new rules mean?

The European Green Deal, a set of policy initiatives approved in 2020, aims for a sustainable and competitive economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Along with the legislation driving this transition, such as the Energy Efficiency Directive recast (see EED comes into force, creating an enormous task for the industry), the strategy will []

Guide
May 25, 2026

EU Battery Regulation explained

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. The

Guide
Jan 21, 2026

Batteries Directive

battery . Furthermore, the directive lacked specific and sufficient provisions on the collection and return of waste industrial batteries and lithium-ion batteries, which the study qualified as an issue of particularly high concern'' '', especially in the light of the expected increase in the use of lithium -

Guide
Dec 13, 2025

Sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries

The regulation amends Directive 2008/98/EC on waste management (see summary) and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products (see summary).

Guide
Sep 16, 2025

Lithium Battery Regulations and Standards in the EU: An Overview

a. EN 62620 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes – Secondary lithium cells and batteries for use in industrial applications. b. EN IEC 60086-4 – Primary batteries – Part 4: Safety of lithium batteries. c. EN IEC 62281 – Safety of primary and secondary lithium cells and batteries during

Guide
Nov 11, 2025

Batteries Act

The aim of the act is to transpose into national law Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on batteries and accumulators and repealing Directive 91/157/EEC (Batteries Directive). Change from a notification to a registration obligation for all manufacturers of batteries; New responsibilities

Guide
Jan 23, 2026

How the lithium ion supply chain can prepare for the EU Battery

A new regulation which focuses on batteries at the centre of the energy transition is now under way in the European Union. The EU Battery Regulation, which replaces the EU Battery Directive, entered into force in August 2023, but has begun to phase in this week. This new regulation puts in place rules regarding the []

Guide
Oct 20, 2025

Batteries

The European Parliament and the Council adopted the new Batteries Regulation on 12 July 2023. This will minimise the environmental impact of this exponential growth in light

Guide
Dec 01, 2025

Questions and Answers on Sustainable Batteries Regulation

batteries. The targets for recycling efficiency of lead-acid batteries are increased, and new targets for lithium batteries are introduced, in light of the importance of lithium for the battery value chain. In addition, specific recovery targets for valuable materials – cobalt, lithium, lead and nickel – are set to be achieved by 2025 and 2030.

Guide
Sep 18, 2025

NEW EU Battery Regulation: what does it mean?

Under the new EU Batteries Regulation, certain stages of the battery life cycle are particularly challenging to integrate and monitor in the battery passport. These include the raw material sourcing phase, where tracking the provenance of critical materials like lithium or cobalt is complex due to global supply chains and ethical concerns.

Guide
Aug 08, 2025

EUROBAT position paper on the Batteries Regulation:

6. Revise and update the recycling efficiency targets included in the Batteries Directive Currently, the Batteries Directive includes recycling efficiency targets for lead-based (65%) and nickel-based (75%) batteries. Other battery types, including lithium-based batteries, have a generic 50% target.

Guide
Jul 05, 2025

New EU regulatory framework for batteries

the directive applies to all types of batteries, no matter their chemical nature, size or design, and classifies them according to their use. Categories of battery include: portable batteries (e.g.

Guide
Feb 23, 2026

Implications of the EU Low Voltage Directive on Battery Usage

Installers can leverage emerging technologies such as advanced battery management systems and remote monitoring capabilities to optimise system performance and enhance reliability. Conclusion Including batteries in the EU Low Voltage Directive heralds a new era of enhanced safety standards and regulatory oversight in fire and security systems.

Guide
Aug 17, 2025

European Parliament adopts updated battery directive targeting

The updated directive features guidelines for the collection of portable batteries (45% by 2023, 63% by 2027 and 73% by 2030) and for light means of transport batteries – a new category covering e-bikes and scooters – (51% by 2028 and 61% by 2031).

Guide
Feb 28, 2026

Batteries

The Battery Regulation contains rules that apply to those who place batteries on the market or use batteries within the EU. The regulation partly replaces the battery directive 2006/66/EC and must be applied from 18 February 2024. Some requirements apply immediately, and some will apply gradually. The rules in the regulation affect several actors and contain

Guide
Nov 24, 2025

EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542) 2024 Requirements

The first set of regulation requirements under the EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 will come into effect on 18 August 2024. These include performance and durability requirements for industrial batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and light means of transport (LMT) batteries; safety standards for stationary battery energy storage systems (SBESS); and

Guide
Feb 11, 2026

Due Diligence Policy Obligations under the new EU Batteries

The new EU Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 has three main aims, namely to: (i) ensure that batteries placed on the EU market are sustainable, efficient and safe throughout their lifecycle; (ii) promote the circular economy by improving the collection, recycling, and reuse of battery materials; and (iii) ensure that raw materials for batteries are sourced responsibly

Guide
Oct 18, 2025

Green Deal: EU agrees new law on more sustainable and circular

The new Regulation will replace the existing Batteries Directive from 2006. This new cradle-to-grave regulatory framework for batteries will require a lot of more detailed rules as lithium and cobalt from waste batteries, contributing to the security of supply of resources needed for the production of new

Guide
Feb 05, 2026

FAQ on the EU battery regulation

The EU battery regulation was adopted June 14, 2023, and it replaces the current batteries legislation, EU Directive 2006/66/EC Battery Directive. The regulation seeks to protect human health and the environment

Guide
Jan 16, 2026

New EU rules for more sustainable and ethical batteries | News

Under the new rules, minimum levels of recovered cobalt (16%), lead (85%), lithium (6%) and nickel (6%) from manufacturing and consumer waste must be reused in new batteries. Simplifying batteries removal and replacement. The new rules foresee that batteries will need to be easier to remove and replace, while consumers are better informed.

Guide
Nov 03, 2025

The New EU Battery Regulation – A Comprehensive Overview

To respond to the growing demands, the EU has adopted a New Battery Regulation in July 2023, which replaces the previous Battery Directive from 2006 (EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC). We summarized the Directive and its key changes for you. Introduction of New Battery Types. lithium, lead and nickel may only be used as recycled raw

Guide
Jul 17, 2025

Regulations: batteries and accumulators

If the size of the battery, accumulator or battery pack is too small to be suitably marked, the capacity must be marked on the packaging with a minimum size of 5.0 × 12.0 mm (height x length).

Guide
Dec 14, 2025

EUROBAT position paper on the Batteries Regulation:

1. Support the production of all battery technologies in Europe Batteries are critical to the fight to decarbonise our economy and tackle climate change. All battery technologies — lead, lithium, nickel and sodium — are needed to support the decarbonisation of the transport, energy, logistics, production and telecommunications sectors. No single battery technology can

Guide
Dec 09, 2025

New EU rules for more sustainable and ethical batteries

On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament adopted an update of the EU''s battery directive to ensure that batteries can be repurposed, remanufactured or recycled at the end of their life. The new rules are linked to

Guide
Jan 30, 2026

Batteries: deal on new EU rules for design, production and waste

The agreed rules will cover the entire battery life cycle, from design to end-of-life and apply to all types of batteries sold in the EU: portable batteries, SLI batteries (supplying

6 Frequently Asked Questions about “The latest directive on lithium batteries”

Why did the European Commission propose a new battery directive?

The Commission proposed to revise this Directive in December 2020 due to new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly. It is set to increase 14-fold globally by 2030 and the EU could account for 17% of that demand.

What does the new EU Regulation mean for batteries & waste batteries?

The Council today adopted a new regulation that strengthens sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries. For the first time EU law will regulate the entire life cycle of a battery – from production to reuse and recycling – and ensure that batteries are safe, sustainable and competitive.

Which batteries are not covered by the EU directive?

The directive does not cover batteries used in equipment to protect EU countries' security or for military purposes, or in equipment designed to be sent into space. With some exceptions for portable batteries used in emergency and alarm systems or medical equipment.

What does the new battery regulation mean for the UK?

The Council today adopted a new regulation that strengthens sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries. The regulation will regulate the entire life cycle of batteries – from production to reuse and recycling – and ensure that they are safe, sustainable and competitive.

Are batteries regulated in the EU?

Since 2006, batteries and waste batteries have been regulated at EU level under the Batteries Directive. The Commission proposed to revise this Directive in December 2020 due to new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly.

When will the Commission adopt a new battery policy?

The Commission shall, by 18 February 2025 for electric vehicle batteries, 18 August 2026 for rechargeable industrial batteries except those with exclusively external storage, 18 August 2028 for LMT batteries and 18 August 2030 for rechargeable industrial batteries with external storage, adopt:

Battery & Energy Storage Insights

Ready to Power Your Project?

Contact our team for a free feasibility study, custom battery sizing, and a competitive quote.