EU battery regulation

[02 March 2026]

Objective of the document

EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 was adopted on July 2023 and came into force in August 2023. It includes a phased implementation of various measures over the coming years.

The regulation covers key aspects such as conformity, due diligence, extended producer responsibility and requirements for battery removability and replaceability by the end user. It also mandates that portable batteries be made available as spare parts.

The purpose of this document is to address the requirements outlined in Article 74 (1) and (2) (application date: August 2025) by providing relevant functions in JTI the necessary information to be shared with end-users, distributors and operators.

This document was developed for devices with a captive battery and it will be reviewed and adjusted for removable battery design in our devices as well as for the availability of spare batteries.

EU battery regulation Art 74 (1) - Application date 18th of August 2025

In addition to the information referred to in Article 8a(2) of Directive 2008/98/EC, producers or, where appointed in accordance with Article 57(1), producer responsibility organisations shall make available to end-users and distributors the following information regarding the prevention and management of waste batteries with regard to the categories of batteries that they supply within the territory of a Member State:

(a) the role of end-users in contributing to waste prevention, including by information on good practices and recommendations concerning the use of batteries aimed at extending their use phase and the possibilities of re-use, preparation for re-use, preparation for repurposing, repurposing and remanufacturing;

(b) the role of end-users in contributing to the separate collection of waste batteries in accordance with their obligations under Article 64 to allow their treatment;

(c) the separate collection, take-back and collection points, preparation for re-use, preparation for repurposing and treatment available for waste batteries;

(d) the necessary safety instructions to handle waste batteries, including in relation to the risks associated with, and the handling of, batteries containing lithium;

(e) the meaning of the labels and symbols on batteries in accordance with Article 13 or printed on their packaging or in the documents accompanying batteries; and

(f) the impact of substances, in particular hazardous substances, present in batteries on the environment and on human health or the safety of persons, including the impact due to inappropriate discarding of waste batteries, such as littering or discarding as unsorted municipal waste.

That information shall be made available:

- at regular time intervals for each battery model from the moment the battery model concerned is being made available on the market for the first time in a Member State, as a minimum at the point of sale in a visible manner and through online platforms;

- in a language or languages which can be easily understood by end-users, as determined by the Member State in which the battery is to be made available on the market.

Article 74 (1)

(a) the role of end-users in contributing to waste prevention

You can contribute to battery waste prevention by using your device as described in its manual and not exposing it to conditions detrimental to its lifespan. To avoid accelerated wear on the internal lithium-ion battery:

- Use and charge your device according to the manual instructions.

- Avoid using or charging your device in extreme temperatures. Your device is designed to perform optimally across a wide range of temperatures. Refer to the specific section in the manual.

- Avoid exposing your device to temperatures higher than 35°C to avoid permanently reducing battery performance.

- Charge your device before it is fully discharged and do not leave it in a fully discharged state.

If you need to store your device for an extended period:

- Place your device in a cool, dry environment at temperatures below 25° C.

- Store your product at approximately 50% of battery capacity.

- Recharge it to approximately 50% of capacity at least once every six months.

NOTE: The battery will naturally self-discharge during storage. Higher temperatures (above 25 °C) will reduce the battery lifespan.

(b) the role of end-users in contributing to the separate collection of waste batteries;

This product contains a lithium-ion battery which must only be removed by trained professionals.

The separate collection and recycling of batteries makes an important contribution to lessening the impact of batteries on the environment and reducing the risk of health hazards.

Batteries must be disposed of in a separate waste stream, not with household waste. Battery recycling prevents pollution and helps valuable materials like nickel, lithium and cobalt to be reused.

(c) separate collection and take-back options

In order to help prevent harmful chemicals from entering the environment, the disposal of used batteries, or used devices if the battery is not removable, can be done at designated collection locations and is free of charge.

Please check local regulations or contact your local waste disposal service provider for further information on the disposal of batteries or electronic products.

(d) the necessary safety instructions to handle waste batteries, including in relation to the risks associated with, and the handling of, batteries containing lithium;

Waste batteries may contain hazardous substances, including lithium, that can harm the environment or your health if not stored or disposed of properly. Waste batteries, including lithium-containing batteries, must therefore be handled with due care in order to prevent accidents, including fire or the risk of injury – even used batteries can contain enough energy to injure or start a fire.

The lithium-ion battery which is contained in this product must only be removed by trained professionals.

Handling of used devices containing batteries should be done according to the following safety instructions:

- Fully discharge your device or battery before disposal.

- Keep the device, including the battery, out of reach of children and pets.

- Avoid physical damage: if the battery is damaged, its hazardous contents can leak. Do not crush, puncture, disassemble or expose the device or the battery to extreme temperatures.

- Avoid contact with metal objects. If the battery is removed from the device, to reduce the risk of electrical short-circuiting, place non-conductive tape (e.g. electrical tape) over the battery terminals and/or place batteries in separate plastic bags and never put these batteries in household garbage or recycling bins.

- Store properly: keep the used device or the battery in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Do not immerse the device or the battery in water or allow it to get wet. Do not put the device or the battery into a fire or apply direct heat to it.

- Handle leaks with care: if a battery leaks, do not touch it with bare hands. Use protective gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling.

Failure to observe the precautions above may result in battery leakage, overheating, explosion and/or fire.

If the battery leaks or emits an odor, remove it immediately from proximity to any exposed flame. The leaking electrolyte can ignite and cause a fire or explosion. Do not touch leaking electrolyte with bare hands.

If the battery leaks and the electrolyte gets into your eyes, do not rub them. Instead, rinse them with clean running water and immediately seek medical attention. If the electrolyte gets onto skin or clothing, immediately rinse the affected area with clean running water. If left untreated, skin inflammation can occur.

(e) the meaning of the labels and symbols marked on batteries or printed on their packaging or in the documents accompanying batteries;

The crossed out wheelie bin symbol printed on the battery indicates that used batteries must not be disposed of with household waste. Instead, they should be disposed off at recycling collection points.

The CE mark printed on the battery indicates that it complies with Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and the Council of 12 July 2023.

Inappropriate disposal of waste batteries, such as littering or discarding them with unsorted municipal waste, can lead to internal content leakage and fire hazards, severely impacting the environment and human health.

Impact on the environment:

If battery contents leak into the soil or water, they can cause environmental contamination and harm to ecosystems, with long-lasting effects.

The battery in this device is highly reactive and can explode if damaged or crushed during disposal. Fires at waste facilities or landfills can lead to further environmental damage.

Impact on the human health or the safety of persons:

Toxic substance leakage can cause severe damage to human health if it comes into direct contact with the body, leading to severe irritation of the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. If hazardous substances come into contact with the mouth, or are swallowed accidentally, they may cause poisoning.

If batteries are opened, destroyed, exposed to high temperatures, immersed in liquids or incinerated due to improper disposal, they may explode or leak electrolytes, which can ignite and cause fires or explosions, thereby injuring human bodies.

EU battery regulation Art 74(2) - Application date 18th of August 2025

Make available to distributors and operators information referred to in Articles 62 (distributors), 65 (operators of treatment facilities) and 66 (public waste management authorities) and other waste management operators carrying out preparation for re-use, preparation for repurposing, or treatment information regarding the safety and protective measures, including on occupational safety, applicable to the storage and collection of waste batteries.

Article 74 (2)

Storage:

- Do not immerse the battery in water or allow it to get wet.

- Do not store the battery near sources of heat such as a fire or heaters, or in extremely hot conditions.

- Do not put the battery into a fire or apply direct heat to it.

Handling:

- Do not pierce the battery casing, break it or step on it.

- Do not strike or crush the battery.

- Do not attempt to disassemble the battery in any way.

- If the battery leaks or emits an odor, immediately remove it from the proximity of any exposed flame. The leaking electrolyte can ignite and cause a fire or explosion.

- Do not carry the battery together with keys, necklaces, hairpins or other metal objects.

First aid measures:

If the battery ruptures, the electrolyte in contact with the human body part may cause injury. In such a situation, the following emergency measures should be taken:

- Eye contact: Eye contact may cause severe irritation and possibly a burning sensation or injury. Do not rub your eyes. Immediately flush your eyes with running water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally blinking by lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Seek immediate medical attention.

- Skin contact: Skin contact may cause irritation. Remove contaminated clothing and rinse the contaminated skin with plenty of water and soap, or take a shower for 15 minutes. Get medical aid.

- Inhalation: High vapor concentrations may cause respiratory tract irritation. Safely remove the source of exposure or move to fresh air immediately and use artificial respiration, if needed. Get medical advice as soon as possible.

- Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly with water, do not induce vomiting of the victim unless instructed by medical personnel. Consult a physician or local poison control center immediately.

Usable extinguishing agent:

Characteristic of hazards: combustion products are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, lithium oxide fumes, and so on. Toxic fumes, gases or vapours may ignite.

Protective Equipment: Protective gloves, respiratory protection, protective clothes and safety glasses are not necessary under normal conditions but are required in case of battery incidents.

Suitable extinguishing agents: carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, chemical powder, and fire foam extinguishers. Do not use an extinguisher containing metal (Class D, type II extinguisher).

ADDITIONALLY:

Distributors that supply batteries to end-users shall permanently provide the information above, as well as information on how end-users can return waste batteries free-of-charge to respective collection points established at retail outlets or on behalf of an online platform within their retail premises in an easily accessible and clearly visible manner. That obligation shall be limited to the categories of batteries which the distributor or retailer offers, or had previously offered, as new batteries.

Distributors shall also provide the information referred to above when they sell their products through online platforms that allow consumers to conclude distance contracts with traders.