EU moves to require universal charger for all mobile devices

Oct. 4 (UPI) -- The European Parliament has approved a new regulation that would require all mobile devices, cameras and tablets sold in the European Union to have USB Type-C charging ports by the end of 2024.

The measure, aimed at reducing electronic waste, could affect Apple products like the iPhone that still use the company's Lightning charger. The change would mean that Samsung and Apple devices could use the same charger.

The rule was approved by the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, before passing the European Parliament by a wide margin on Tuesday. It will next need to pass the European Council, which is comprised of EU government representatives, before it becomes law.

Though many newer Apple products, including MacBooks and iPads, have a Type-C port, the company has expressed concern that the new rule would stifle innovation.

The European Parliament says unused and discarded chargers amount to about 11,000 metric tons of waste in Europe every year.

In a press release, European Parliamentarian Alex Agius Saliba defended the legislation saying, "This future-proof law allows for the development of innovative charging solutions in the future, and it will benefit everyone -- from frustrated customers to our vulnerable environment."