On 10 December 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation on batteries and waste batteries, aimed at ensuring that batteries placed in the EU market are sustainable and safe throughout their entire life cycle. This is the first policy worldwide to cover the entire battery value chain. It would be the first legally binding initiative to clean up battery supply chains, and would force businesses to do more to protect workers, communities and the environment.

The proposed regulation sets increased targets for the collection and recycling of batteries, aligned with the EU circular economy ambition. It also includes performance and durability requirements for industrial and portable batteries, and provisions facilitating repair, repurposing for second-life applications and recycling. The EU also proposes to introduce a battery passport, both for electric vehicles and industrial energy storage batteries, to increase transparency of the battery market and traceability.

Despite welcoming the proposal, environmental civil society organisations are calling on EU governments and institutions to implement a number of specific policy measures to strengthen the law.

It is now up to the European Parliament and Council’s national governments to improve this proposal.

The Council and Parliament reached a political agreement in December 2022. The provisional agreement was endorsed by Parliament's plenary on 14 June 2023, and by the Council on 10 July 2023. It will apply from February 2024.