On July 28, 2023, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union published a new regulation on batteries and waste batteries, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542. The regulation aims to promote a circular economy in the battery industry by regulating all stages of the battery life cycle, including production, reuse, and recycling. The regulation includes labeling and information requirements for battery components and outlines targets for the recycling of used battery materials, as well as requirements for the carbon footprint of batteries (which does not apply to portable batteries). The regulation was codified on 12 July 2023, published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 28 July 2023, and will enter into force on 18 August 2023

• Chapter 13 of the Regulation, from 18 August 2025, all batteries shall bear a separate recycling mark, from 18 August 2026, the relevant labelling requirements of the Regulation shall be fully implemented, from 18 February 2027 all batteries shall have a QR code containing the battery information required by the Regulations;
• Chapter 11 of the Regulation (Removable and replaceable requirements for portable batteries and LMT batteries): 18 February 2027;
• Directive 2006/66/EC, which replaces this regulation, will be repealed from 18 August 2025.

Click on this link to view the original Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.

Following a public consultation on 24 May 2023, on 20 July 2023, the European Commission published an announcement numbered C(2023) 4823 final, postponing the implementation date of (EU) 2022/30 from 1 August 2024 to 1 August 2025. The announcement also amends the text description in the second paragraph of Chapter 1 of (EU) 2022/30 by changing the original text "traffic data and location data" to "traffic data or location data".

Click on this link to view the original European Commission announcement.

On July 20, 2023, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) published RSS-199 Issue 4, Broadband Radio Service (BRS) Equipment Operating in the 2500–2690 MHz Band, which replaces RSS-199 Issue 3. The main changes are as follows:

• Paired and unpaired spectrum plans for the 2500-2690 MHz band have been added to Tables 1 and 2, respectively
• Table 3 adds the maximum transmit power requirements for fixed stations and base stations for non-AAS and AAS equipment;
• The total radiated power requirement for unwanted emissions is added in Section 5.6;
• Add definitions to clarify the terminology used;
• Adjust to the latest RSS standard structure;
• Other editorial changes and revisions made to improve clarity.

With this standard update, ISED still provides a six-month transition period, and manufacturers can choose to test in Issue 3 or Issue 4 until January 20, 2024.

Click this link to view the original RSS-199 standard.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Viet Nam has launched the following public consultation on the IMT mobile communication system:

• Draft Circular "Planning the 3560-4000 MHz Frequency Band for Vietnam's IMT Mobile Communication System". Click on this link to view the original public consultation, which is open until 30 August 2023;
• Draft Circular "Planned frequency bands 1920-1980 MHz, 2110-2170 MHz for IMT mobile communication systems in Vietnam. Click on this link to view the original public consultation, which is open until 4 September 2023;

Click on this link to see more information about the two public consultations above.

On June 15, 2023, the Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ANRT) issued a decision on the approval of technical specifications for terminal equipment and radio equipment ANRT/DG/N°12-23. Highlights of the decision include the following updates:

• 5G technology is mentioned in the decision, but spectrum allocation has not yet been clarified. Mobile operators must first obtain a license for the intended band 3.4-3.8 GHz before they can provide service;
• 4G band allocation remains unchanged;
• Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6E only allow the use of the 5150-5350 MHz frequency. The 5.470-5.725 GHz band is licensed for point-to-point applications.

Click on the link to view the original ANRT/DG/N°12-23 decision.

This decision applies to state organs, enterprises, organizations and individuals engaged in the import, production and trade of specific goods. The decision does not apply to products that are only temporarily sold in Vietnam, such as those intended for re-export.

The decision stipulates that the following categories of products specified in Appendix I will not be allowed to be imported, produced and traded if they do not meet the minimum energy efficiency levels set out in the applicable national standards (TCVNs). These items include, but are not limited to, designated products in the following categories:

• fluorescent lamps, electromagnetic ballasts for fluorescent lamps, straight tube fluorescent lamps, electric fans, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners without air ducts, washing machines, rice cookers, water heaters, commercial refrigerators, electric motors, transformers and boilers, etc.);
• Office and commercial products (including monitors, copiers, printers, desktops, laptops, etc.);
• Industrial products (LED street and street lighting, boilers for industrial plants, transformers).

The list and specific restrictions on the coal-fired and gas-fired power generation components of inefficient thermal power plants that are not allowed to be built are set out in Annex II of the decision.

This decision entered into force on 15 July 2023 and replaces Decision 24/2018/QD-TTg. The mandatory date for the new standards for desktops and laptops is April 1, 2025.

Click this link to view the original text of decision 14/2023/QD-TTg.

On May 7, 2023, GCF released CC 3.89.0, with the following major changes:

• New frequency bands: DC_2A-66A_n5A, DC_1A_n28A-n78A, and CA_DL_n48A-n66A;

On April 21, 2023, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) issued a notice extending the mandatory date for hearing aid compatibility and volume control requirements for mobile devices from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2026. At the same time, the RSS-HAC standard also states the above mandatory dates in the form of amendments.

Click this link to view ISED-related announcements. Click this link to view the updated RSS-HAC standard.

On 17 April, the European Union published a new version of Regulation (EU) 2023/826 on standby power consumption in the ErP series of directives, which will be mandatory on 9 May 2025 and replace the old Regulation (EC) 1275/2008 and (EC) 107/2009. The new regulations cover most small household appliances, IT equipment (excluding desktop computers and laptops), consumer entertainment electronics, electric furniture and home decoration equipment. Regulations require devices to have power management capabilities to meet energy consumption requirements for shutdown mode, standby mode, and network standby mode.

Click this link to view the original text.

In accordance with the relevant requirements of the "Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Management System of the Electronic and Electrical Industry" (Guo Ban Fa [2022] No. 31), the State Administration for Market Regulation has decided to implement compulsory product certification (CCC certification) management for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs, mobile power supplies and power adapters/chargers for telecommunications terminal products used in electronic and electrical products (hereinafter referred to as newly included products), and the relevant requirements are hereby announced as follows:

1. From August 1, 2023, the designated certification body will begin to accept the CCC certification entrustment of the newly included products, and carry out the certification work in accordance with the applicable standards listed in the "Compulsory Product Certification Implementation Rules Information Technology Equipment" and the annex; The new inclusion in the list of designated certification bodies and laboratories for products will be announced separately.

2. The scope of CCC certification for newly included products is detailed in the annex. Among them, for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in electronic and electrical products, CCC certification is carried out for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs for portable electronic products at this stage, and CCC certification is carried out in a timely manner for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in other electronic and electrical products.

3. In view of the GB31241-2022 "Safety Technical Specifications for Lithium-ion Batteries and Battery Packs for Portable Electronic Products" will be mandatory on January 1, 2024, in order to reduce the cost of obtaining certification for enterprises, the designated certification body will carry out CCC certification of relevant products in accordance with this standard.

4. Under the premise of controllable certification risks and ensuring the quality of certification, designated certification bodies and laboratories should actively adopt the existing conformity assessment results to reduce the burden on enterprises and facilitate enterprises to obtain certifications.

Attachment: Scope definition of CCC certification for newly included products