Overview
- The European Commission adopted a delegated regulation on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, that carves wearable devices out of the Batteries Regulation requirement that consumers be able to remove and replace portable batteries.
- The exemption covers compact, sealed wearables such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, wireless earbuds and smart glasses with the Apple Watch and AirPods cited as examples.
- The Commission said the change responds to safety and engineering limits, noting that opening tiny sealed devices can compromise water resistance, create choking or explosion risks, or be impossible to reseal safely by consumers.
- Manufacturers of exempted devices must still allow battery replacement by independent professionals and must sell any specialized tools on fair, non‑discriminatory terms, and the delegated act will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal unless the European Parliament or Council objects.
- The move tightens the balance between the EU’s repairability push and real-world design limits, follows precedents like the iPhone’s earlier exemption, and could prompt closer industry shifts and political scrutiny during the short parliamentary review window.