Regulatory Developments in Consumer Electronics: December 2025

This blog was originally posted on 9th December, 2025. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY KELLY BUGIERA, SENIOR REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST AND TEAM LEADER, COMPLIANCE & RISKS

Consumer Electronics Regulatory & Legislative Update

The world of consumer electronics is in constant flux, not only are the products becoming more complex, but the related requirements are becoming more complex, too. Global consumers, industry, regulators and legislators have demanded safer and more sustainable consumer products, including electronics and the batteries used to power them.

This blog provides a global overview of some of the key regulatory/legislative actions taking place as we wrap up 2025.

South Korea: Adoption of USB Type-C Charging Mandate

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) announced that specified devices will be required to be equipped with a USB Type-C receptacle connector when they are wired for charging or simultaneous charging and data transfers.

This mandate will commence on 5 November 2026 and apply to the following devices:

• Mobile phones;
• Tablets;
• Digital cameras;
• Headphones;
• Headsets;
• Portable video game consoles;
• Portable speakers;
• E-book readers;
• Keyboards;
• Mouses;
• Portable navigation devices;
• Earphones;
• Laptops.

Importantly, this measure is modelled on the EU’s Directive (EU) 2022/2380. In addition to the EU, and now South Korea, additional countries have begun the process of mandating USB Type-C receptacles for certain devices, including Saudi Arabia and India.

California (USA): Updated Information Related to Covered Battery-Embedded Products

To better assist regulated stakeholders (retailers, approved collectors, approved recyclers), CalRecycle has compiled two lists of covered battery-embedded products (CBEPs). The first is in the form of an Excel spreadsheet, which provides the manufacturer’s name, UPC codes, and a description of the product. The second is a user-friendly table, listing categories of products, manufacturers and brand names, as well as examples of products included in each category. Both of these lists are conveniently posted on CalRecycle’s Electronic Waste Management Page.

Please note that this information has been collected from notices that were sent to CalRecycle by manufacturers per Public Resources Code (PRC) section 42466.2. As such, these lists serve as a helpful guide, but do not constitute a complete list of all CBEP. The omission of a CBEP from these lists will not relieve a manufacturer from their responsibility or a retailer from their obligation to collect the covered battery-embedded waste recycling fee.

To provide additional assistance to regulated stakeholders, CalRecycle has also developed a new webpage and a question and answer (Q&A) document. The Manufacturer Notice Guidance webpage contains a decision tree for manufacturers to use to help them determine if their product is considered a CBEP, or if it is an excluded product (for example: covered video display devices).

Please note that these lists are subject to change when CalRecycle receives updated information from manufacturers. As a result, the lists will be periodically updated. General questions about requirements for your covered battery-embedded products may be directed to: embeddedbatteries@calrecycle.ca.gov.

Want to know what PFAS rules could impact consumer electronics in the United States? Download our whitepaper ‘PFAS: United States Key Regulatory Developments in 2025‘

Germany: Federal Council Approves Amendment of WEEE Act (ElektroG)

On 25 November 2025, the German Parliament amended the Act on the Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) otherwise known as ‘Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz – ElektroG’.

The amendment was adopted in response to the continued failure of Germany to meet the minimum WEEE collection rate required in the EU. The revisions to the Act are intended to increase the rate of separate collection for WEEE through the enactment of new labelling and information requirements.

By 1 January 2026, manufacturers and distributors who are obliged to take back WEEE will be required to mark the take-back point with the specified label per Annex 3a. Annex 3a contains a detailed overview of the specifications for the symbol for marking collection and return points.

By 30 June 2026, distributors of WEEE will also have to place the specified symbol (per Annex 3a) in a clearly visible and readable format, at the entrance area of their physical stores and within the view of the customers. They will also be required to provide in-store information about how the return process works, as well as display the specified symbol near the electronic device sales area to clearly indicate that old devices must be disposed of separately from unsorted household waste.

For online distributors who sell electrical devices by remote means, the specified symbol is required to appear clearly and legibly on product pages or at the order stage, together with information about the pickup and return process.

The amendment also aims to reduce the fire risk that is associated with lithium-ion batteries that have been installed in electrical devices by ensuring easily removable batteries have been properly removed at collection points, and that WEEE with non-removable or difficult-to-remove batteries are collected separately. This ensures compliance with the stricter safety requirements for collection and transport.

Want a Global Overview of WEEE EPR Obligations? Check out our whitepaper.

China: Comprehensive FAQs on Mandatory RoHS Standard GB 26572-2025

To help ensure proper implementation of GB 26572-2025, Frequently Asked Questions about the implementation of China’s RoHS, has been developed.

This FAQ document provides crucial information to all parties who are obliged to comply with the provisions of GB 26572-2025. Important questions regarding product scope, implementation date and transition period of the standards, restrictions, as well as labelling requirements are covered. A reproduction of a few of the questions and answers are listed below. However, a full review of the FAQ document is recommended for a complete understanding of the requirements.

Q: Do prototypes, models, samples, exhibits, returned products, and temporarily imported electrical and electronic products used for research and development and testing need to be labeled with information on the restriction of hazardous substances?

A: Prototypes, models, samples, exhibits, returned products, and temporarily imported electrical and electronic products used for research and development and testing do not involve sales or “marketing,” so they do not need to be labeled with information on the restriction of hazardous substances.

Q: Are electrical and electronic products intended for installation in products outside the scope of this standard still within the scope of this standard?

A: Electrical and electronic products intended for installation in products outside the scope of this standard are not within the scope of this standard. Examples include displays, refrigerators, air purifiers, and navigation devices intended for installation in automobiles or aircraft. However, if these products are sold separately on the market without a clearly defined end use, they fall within the scope of this standard.

Q: After the implementation of this standard, will overseas parent companies need to meet the requirements of this standard when reselling electrical and electronic products to their subsidiaries in China?

A: If an overseas parent company resells products to its Chinese subsidiaries with different independent legal person status, then it should meet the requirements of this standard. If an overseas parent company resells products to its Chinese branch with the same legal person status, this is considered an internal transfer of company assets and does not constitute “putting products on the market,” therefore it is not subject to this standard.

Q: What are the exceptions to the labelling requirements after this standard comes into effect?

A: For products within the scope of this standard, except for the excluded situations, all electrical and electronic products placed on the Chinese mainland market must be labeled with information on the restriction of hazardous substances.

Want a high-level snapshot of RoHS rules impacting EEE today? Download our Global RoHS Comparison Table.

Canada: Consultation on Proposed New Requirements for Lithium-ion Batteries and Consumer Products Containing Lithium-ion Batteries

Health Canada is proposing a new regulatory initiative per the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) to establish mandatory safety requirements for lithium-ion batteries and consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries that are manufactured, imported, advertised and sold in Canada. This proposal would not equate to a ban on all lithium-ion batteries and consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries, and only products not meeting the mandatory safety criteria would be impacted.

Health Canada is considering numerous options for performance criteria that could result in the reduction of risks of overheating, off-gassing, smoke, fire, thermal runaway and explosion that are posed by lithium-ion batteries as stand-alone products or components of consumer products. This could include the possibility of mandatory third-party certification or the incorporation of safety standards by reference in regulations.

Existing standards addressing hazards associated with the batteries themselves currently under consideration include:

• CSA C22.2 No.62133-2:20 – Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes — Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications — Part 2: Lithium systems (Bi-national standard with UL 62133-2, harmonized with IEC 62133-2);
• UL 1642, 6th edition – Lithium Batteries;
• UL 2054, 3rd edition – Household and Commercial Batteries.

In relation to consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries, Health Canada is considering mandatory performance criteria for battery protection and battery management systems of consumer products to help maintain a lithium-ion battery’s safe operating parameters. Health Canada will evaluate the viability of mandatory third-party certification for consumer products subject to Canadian national product standards which contain battery management systems and other battery safety-related requirements.

Health Canada is currently seeking comments on this proposed regulatory initiative. In order to participate in this consultation, stakeholders may submit responses to the questionnaire on the Notice of Intent – Proposed new requirements for lithium-ion batteries and consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries:

• Notice of Intent
• Feedback form

The consultation period opened on December 2, 2025 and will close to new input on February 14, 2026.

Stay Ahead Of Regulatory Changes

Want to stay ahead of these regulatory developments? Accelerate your ability to achieve, maintain & expand market access for all products in global markets with C2P – your key to unlocking market access, trusted by more than 300 of the world’s leading brands.

C2P is an enterprise SaaS platform providing everything you need in one place to achieve your business objectives by proving compliance in over 195 countries.

C2P is purpose-built to be tailored to your specific needs with comprehensive capabilities that enable enterprise-wide management of regulations, standards, requirements and evidence.
Add-on packages help accelerate market access through use-case-specific solutions, global regulatory content, a global team of subject matter experts and professional services.

• Accelerate time-to-market for products
• Reduce non-compliance risks that impact your ability to meet business goals and cause reputational damage
• Enable business continuity by digitizing your compliance process and building corporate memory
• Improve efficiency and enable your team to focus on business critical initiatives rather than manual tasks
• Save time with access to Compliance & Risks’ extensive Knowledge Partner network

Cutting Through the Chaos: A 2025-2026 Survival Guide to ESG, Sustainability & Product Compliance

Unpack the latest regulatory developments in 2025, gain practical insights, and learn what’s coming next in 2026!

Whether you’re grappling with deadlines or planning for future compliance, join us for a roadmap to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

REGISTER now