LONDON (AP) — Forget rummaging through the junk drawer.
Soon, Europeans will only need to reach for one cable to charge their smartphones and other devices.
European Union officials said they inked a provisional agreement Tuesday that will require a uniform charging cord in the 27-nation bloc.
It’s part of a wider effort to make products sold in the EU more sustainable and cut down on electronic waste.
The new rules, which will take effect by fall 2024, mean EU consumers will only need to use a common USB Type-C cable for small and medium-sized rechargeable, portable electronic devices.
“European consumers were frustrated with multiple chargers piling up within their homes,” Alex Agius Saliba, the European Parliament’s lead negotiator, said at a press briefing in Brussels.
“Now, they will be able to go with a single charger for all portable electronics, which is an important step to increase consumer convenience.”
The devices covered include mobile phones, tablets, e-readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles, keyboards and mice, portable speakers and navigation devices.
Laptops also are covered, but manufacturers will have extra time to comply.
The rules apply only to devices sold in the European single market, which consists of 30 countries. However, like the EU’s strict privacy regulations, they could end up becoming a de facto standard for the rest of the world.
While many electronics makers have started adopting USB-C sockets into their devices, Apple has been one of the main holdouts.