The European Council recently adopted a draft regulation from the European Commission on battery capacity labeling, which covers portable (rechargeable) batteries, automotive batteries, and accumulators. The draft regulation will have a significant impact on battery, accumulator, and battery-powered product manufacturers in Hong Kong and mainland China, who will need time to adjust their processes to comply with the new capacity labeling requirements.
If the draft regulations are passed by the European Parliament, portable batteries, car batteries and accumulators will be required to be labeled with their capacity levels.
Labels must indicate the capacity of batteries and accumulators in accordance with international electrical standards. The draft regulations also specify the size and location of the labels.
Portable batteries, automotive batteries, and accumulators that are placed on the market 18 months after the EU Official Journal publishes the regulations will be subject to the provisions of those regulations. Manufacturers have 18 months to adjust their production processes to meet the regulatory requirements.
The draft regulations stipulate that portable batteries and accumulators that are already installed in electrical appliances before being provided to end users and that will not be removed are exempt from the requirement.
The draft regulations state that the purpose of establishing capacity labels is to provide end users with useful, easily understandable, and comparable information to make informed choices when purchasing automotive batteries and accumulators. Therefore, the draft includes several provisions:
• The capacity levels of portable batteries, automotive batteries, and accumulators are determined according to international electrical standards.
• The capacity of the batteries and storage batteries mentioned above is measured in "ampere-hours" (Ah) or "milliampere-hours" (mAh).
• The regulations specify the information included in the label and the label design. The capacity level of portable batteries and accumulators will be displayed in a specified numerical format. The criteria for using the numerical format depend on the substances inside the battery or accumulator and its intended use.
• There are regulations regarding the size and location of labels on batteries, accumulators, and their packaging.
• Regarding automotive batteries and accumulators, the capacity label should include the capacity level and cold-start performance. Furthermore, the draft also specifies the label size and location for both types of batteries.
The proposed draft of battery capacity labeling is available at: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/10/st12/st12468.en10.pdf
–Source: UNCTAD.org
