The European Commission (EC) has proposed a new rule that suggests manufacturers create a universal charger for all phones and small electronic devices. The main goal of this rule is to reduce electronic waste which is becoming a huge problem worldwide.
The proposal said that all smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers. The tech giant Apple which is the main manufacturer of smartphones warned that such a move would harm innovation. Apple is currently using a custom charging port for its iPhone series which is named a “Lightning” connector.
Apple said, “We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world.”
An analyst at CCS Insight, Ben Wood said, “Having one common charging standard would be a victory for common sense in the eyes of consumers. Hopefully, it will eventually become a non-issue if Apple keeps adding USB-C to more devices.”
The EC Vice President Margrethe Vestager said, “We gave industry plenty of time to come up with their own solutions, now time is ripe for legislative action for a common charger. This is an important win for our consumers and environment and in line with our green and digital ambitions.”