EU Exempts Apple Watch and AirPods From Consumer Battery Replacement Rules

The European Commission has adopted a delegated regulation exempting certain wearable devices, including smartwatches and wireless earbuds, from EU rules requiring consumers to be able to remove and replace portable batteries.



Under the existing EU Batteries Regulation, manufacturers are generally required to design products with portable batteries so consumers can remove and replace them throughout the product's lifetime. A newly adopted delegated act adds exemptions for products where user battery replacement could compromise safety, durability, or water resistance. For those devices, batteries need only be removable and replaceable by independent professionals.


The Commission's updated guidelines cite smartwatches, fitness trackers, wireless earbuds, and smart glasses as examples of wearable devices that may qualify for the exemption when they meet the regulation's criteria. Products like the Apple Watch and AirPods rely on highly compact, sealed enclosures to maintain their functional integrity while protecting internal components against water, dust, and shock. The exemption could also benefit future Apple wearable projects, including display-free smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods.

Beyond wearables, the Commission added exemptions for electric toys incorporating rechargeable batteries, wireless thermometer probes designed for food contact, equipment intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, on-body medical delivery systems, and telematics devices used on agricultural and construction machinery.

While consumers will not be required to replace these batteries themselves, manufacturers must still ensure independent professionals can access and replace them without destroying the device. Any specialized tools required for the repair must also be made available to independent professionals at a reasonable and non-discriminatory price.

The delegated regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, provided the European Parliament and Council raise no objections.