ECHA to support the European Commission with tasks concerning battery safety

On 17 August 2023, the new EU Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) concerning batteries and waste batteries entered into force and the Batteries Directive (Directive 2006/66/EC) was repealed. In the coming years the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) will support the European Commission with tasks aiming to make batteries safer.

The development and production of batteries are strategic priorities for Europe in the transition towards clean energy. The global demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is predicted to have a 14-fold increase by the year 2030. 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 has implemented the new Batteries Regulation. Some of the keypoints of the new regulation are as follows:

• Continue to restrict the use of mercury and cadmium in batteries.

• Introduce a restriction for lead in portable batteries.

• Aim to strengthen the internal market by ensuring a level playing field through a common set of rules.

• Promote a circular economy.

• Seek to reduce the environmental and social impacts throughout the entire life cycle of batteries.

ECHA will support the European Commission in the process by:

• Assisting in preparing a report on substances of concern contained in batteries or used in their manufacturing that have negative impacts on human health, the environment or recycling for safe and high-quality raw materials. It is expected that ECHA will begin its work toward this report in 2024 and present it by 31 December 2027.

• Preparing, if requested by the Commission, a restriction proposal on harmful substances used in the manufacturing of batteries or present in batteries when they are placed on the market, and in waste batteries in accordance with Annex XV of REACH.

• Providing an opinion through the committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) on the effectiveness of the restriction proposal in managing the risk and its impact on society.

Some more details on the new Battery Regulation can be found here.