Preparing for the EU’s USB-C Law and CE Logo: What Device Wholesalers Need to Know

What is the EU’s Common Charger Directive?

The European Union regularly drafts regulations to achieve its consumer welfare goals for the citizens of Europe. One such regulation is the Common Charger Directive, which stipulates that all common electronic devices shall use USB-C ports and cables for charging. Smartphones that are to be sold in Europe (in 2025 and beyond) fall under this regulation, and accordingly, they must feature a USB-C port that can be used for charging.

How the Shift to USB-C Affects Device Wholesalers

The EU USB-C law is not difficult to comply with, as almost all new phones now feature USB-C by default. The primary exception will be older iPhones (iPhone 14 and older) with Apple’s proprietary lightning port. Secondary market sales are not subject to the Common Charger Directive, so companies that deal in older and refurbished iPhones will be unaffected.

Regarding the EU regulation on phone chargers, resellers and wholesalers in Europe should continue to package and retail cables and chargers that match the device they are selling. In terms of sales patterns, expect the EU USB-C law to drive the popularity of the latest Android and iPhone devices as Europeans seek to stay up to date with the present and future charging standards of the continent.

The Role of the CE Logo in Product Compliance

The CE mark, or CE logo, is shown on goods produced in compliance with all applicable European regulations. The mark is applied by the manufacturer when their compliance efforts and mandated product tests pass European market standards. While the mark is not required on all types of products, it is obligatory on smartphones designed for sale in the EU.

To ensure CE compliance, European secondary market wholesalers (who sell devices destined for their home market) should be careful to source devices that bear the CE mark. Many device makers divide their product lines by geography and make area-specific models of popular devices. For instance, Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models are produced in multiple variants, with different components intended for different markets. To provide the best customer experience to their customers, wholesalers should clearly label devices designed for specific geographies.

Why Sustainability Matters: EU’s Green Agenda and the USB-C Law

The most cited motivation for the EU’s Common Charger Directive is the reduction of electronic waste, as customers consolidate their cables and chargers and refrain from buying new ones. The EU estimates that 11,000 tons of e-waste is generated each year by consumers discarding old chargers. USB-C standardization will extend the usable lifetime of existing chargers and supplant the purchase of new chargers. These two changes will significantly reduce the generation of e-waste over time.

Steps To Ensure Compliance With the New Regulations

Compliance with the EU USB-C standard is easy for wholesalers: for new devices, sell only models with USB-C charging (which is almost all phones as of 2025), and for used devices, sell all models, including older iPhones with lightning ports.

To comply with the CE mark standard, wholesalers should seek out those model variants designed for the European Union (models designed for the U.S. will bear the FCC mark instead of the CE mark). Note that sometimes, device makers produce a single model bearing both the CE and FCC mark, which are intended to be sold worldwide.

How Adopting USB-C Can Give Your Business a Competitive Edge

As the recent EU rule makes plain, now is the time to adopt the USB-C standard. For wholesalers seeking to reach EU customers, new and refurbished devices should use USB-C. As of 2025, most new smartphones now feature USB-C ports for charging, so adaptation of this standard will not meaningfully restrict model selection.

Used devices are not required to conform to the new law; thus, the sale of older iPhone models can continue unimpeded. At the same time, the new EU standard can be expected to shift EU demand toward USB-C, even for used devices. Agile wholesalers can get ahead of EU consumer trends by prioritizing recent-model iPhones with USB-C, like the iPhone 15 and 16.

Navigating the Future of EU Device Regulations

While the USB-C charging standard will prevail for the foreseeable future, change is always possible. Wholesalers that deal in the European market should keep an eye on regulatory developments that touch the industry. The European Union's Doing Business page is worthy of a bookmark, as is the European Commission page.

Near-Term Implications for Device Wholesalers

These EU laws may have an impact on the secondary smartphone market. As of now, buying patterns have varied by customer and country. Some wholesale customers’ buying habits are unchanged, and others are more concerned and are looking to buy only CE product.

FAQs

How do I know if the products I’m sourcing meet the USB-C standard?

Smartphone product listing pages typically include basic specifications of the device, including the type of charging port. If the port is not specified, research the model name on GSMArena and look under the “COMMS” heading.

What is the CE logo, and why do I need it for my products?

The CE mark indicates that a product has passed all safety, functionality, and health requirements to be sold in the EU. It is affixed by the manufacturer once they have satisfactory results on required product tests. If you want to sell smartphones in the European market, the devices will need to feature the CE mark.

When do the new USB-C regulations take effect?

As of 2025, the Common Charging Directive is now active and applicable to all new device sales in the smartphone category.

Will the USB-C law affect the prices of devices?

There may be some minor devaluation of pre-iPhone 15 phones as European consumers move toward USB-C devices. Lightning-compatible accessories, such as chargers and cables, will become increasingly rare in the EU over time. As of early 2025, however, lightning cables and chargers remain widely available in the EU, making older iPhones easy to charge.

What are the risks if I don’t comply with the EU’s USB-C law and CE certification?

Businesses that don’t comply with EU regulations can be sanctioned and fined by the appropriate regulatory body. The EU is known for assessing steep fines, so the costs of non-compliance can be high.