The EU has a habit of pushing tech companies to adopt meaningful changes in their product. It’s the reason your iPhone finally has a USB-C port, and it’s also why companies now have to offer spare parts and repair support for electronics for several years after launch. So naturally, many of us assumed wearables were next in line for mandatory swappable batteries. Turns out, the EU just went the other way.
So what did the EU announce?
On July 14, the European Commission adopted a new rule that adds more exemptions to its Batteries Regulation. Normally, portable batteries in products sold across the EU need to be removable and replaceable by the user. This helps devices last longer and makes recycling easier once they’re done.
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Some products, like electric toothbrushes and other “wet appliances,” were already exempt for safety reasons. Now, the Commission is adding six more categories to that exempt list, and smartwatches and fitness bands are on it. Electric toys and equipment built for explosive environments, like explosion-proof sensors and pumps, also made the cut.
Why is the EU making an exception here?
This didn’t happen overnight. The Commission opened up applications back in 2025 and spent months consulting consumer groups, manufacturers, and EU member states before deciding which products deserved a pass.
Safety played a role too, since poorly disposed small lithium-ion batteries have been causing more fires at waste facilities, and that risk had to be weighed before handing out exemptions.
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The rule now heads to the European Parliament and the Council for review, and it becomes law 20 days after publication in the Official Journal, assuming nobody objects.
What this means for you
If your smartwatch or fitness tracker’s battery dies, don’t expect to pop it open yourself. You will likely still need to send it to an authorized repair shop. The EU’s repair revolution is real, but wearables just got left out of this particular fight.
