Key takeaways: 

• New laws mean EU customers only need one common USB Type-C cable to charge portable devices.
• Small and medium-sized mobile devices sold in the European Union will be required to have a versatile USB Type-C charger beginning in the fall of 2024.

Forget searching through the junk drawer. Soon, Europeans will only require to reach for one cable to charge their smartphones and other gadgets.

European Union officials stated they inked a provisional deal Tuesday that will need a uniform charging cord in the 27-nation bloc. It’s part of a broader measure to make products sold in the EU more sustainable and reduce electronic waste.

The new laws, which will take effect by fall 2024, mean EU customers will only need to use a common USB Type-C cable for small and medium-sized rechargeable, portable electronic gadgets.

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“European buyers were frustrated with numerous chargers piling up within their houses,” Alex Agius Saliba, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator, said at a press briefing in Brussels. “Now, they can go with a single charger for all portable electronics, which is an essential step to increase customer convenience.”

The devices covered have mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles, keyboards and mice, portable speakers, and navigation devices.

Laptops also are covered, but manufacturers will receive extra time to comply.

Source – cbc.ca