The universal charger becomes compulsory in France from the end of 2024

Within a year, smartphones, tablets and other small electronic devices sold in France must all have the same charger, in accordance with a European decision which will come into force on December 28, 2024, according to a decree published Thursday December 28 in the Official Journal . It is the National Frequency Agency which will be responsible for controlling “the placing on the market of radio equipment compatible with the requirements specific to the universal charger”specifies the decree.

After a plebiscite vote by MEPs in Strasbourg in October 2022, the USB-C type port will have to become the only charger for portable electronic devices sold in the EU by fall 2024, to the great dismay of the American giant Apple which until now has its own standard. “Companies must, moreover, offer consumers a separate sale of the device and the charger and indicate this using a pictogram,” the French Ministry of the Economy said on Tuesday.

This pioneering legislation in the world will be required for mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, headsets, digital cameras, wireless headphones, portable video game consoles, GPS, keyboards and mice. computers, as well as portable speakers. And this, regardless of their manufacturer. For laptops, the effective date is April 26, 2026, Bercy announced.