At the end of 2020, the European Commission published its proposal to revise the legislation on batteries and waste batteries. This new regulation aims that all batteries placed on the EU market become sustainable, high-performing and safe all along their entire life cycle.
Our industry is developing battery powered equipment, but also battery packs for mobile applications. Therefore, the future Regulation is a key matter for manufacturers of materials handling equipment as it will influence the future of our industry, its electrification and global competitiveness.
FEM acknowledges the need to modernise the EU legislation on batteries. Our industry supports the objectives to strengthen the Internal Market through a common set of rules, promote circular economy, and reduce environmental and social impacts of batteries. In addition, FEM strongly believes that the future regulation should aim to accelerate innovation and strengthen European competitiveness, helping our companies to maintain their world leader position.
Finally, to ensure a future regulation of high quality, the European Commission proposal should be revised according to the better regulation principles. In short, the legislation must strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union’s economy, in the simplest, most efficient, and effective way possible, whilst avoiding overregulation and unnecessary administrative burdens, and finally be designed to facilitate its transposition and practical application.
In concrete terms, we suggest a series of changes to decision makers, notably:
- Establish clear definitions to ensure a common understanding for the implementation and enforcement of the future legislation
- Differentiate the manufacturing of cells from other manufacturing activities to apply sustainability requirements where they have the biggest potential impact
- Remove the systematic use of third-party verifications for sustainability aspects since it is neither necessary, nor proportionate or a booster for the circular economy
- Impose a battery management system only to industrial batteries suitable for second life and exclude industrial batteries that do not have integrated management system
For more information, see FEM position
