The New European Battery Law Amendments for Battery Chemical Manufacturers: A Summary for Busy People

By Leon Shepherd

On the new battery law agreed by the European Parliament last week, there are some interesting changes. As you’re busy people, we at BYN will provide a quick, non-legally binding summary (we are not your lawyer).

When will it affect us?

Probably around August.

How will it come into effect?

The European Union is a tad complex; basically, Parliament agrees on a law, and then it will be negotiated with each member state to pass a domestic law to the same effect.?

What will it do??

Two things for raw material or chemical manufacturers.?

Expect stronger ‘due diligence’ laws regarding sourcing and supply for battery chains. Ethics are mentioned multiple times, and greater focus on companies both internal and external to the E.U. This legislation is aimed at countries with questionable human rights records for sourcing important chemicals. It’s nothing too new, as most European companies already ask for this, but it will receive greater obligation to do so.

Greater emphasis on the carbon footprint of each product, to be labelled on the product.

What can we do to prepare?

Anyone wanting to do business in Europe should see this coming. Embracing the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Companies, ILO Convention for Labour Rights, and other pro-Social Responsibility documents.

Is it a good law?

I’d recommend you read the statement by RECHARGE, who outlines multiple problems with the law regarding recycling, collection, the issue with allowing the replacement of battery cells, interchangeability, and other things problems the law fails to address or solve.?

The amendment proposals have not been widely well-received, but we at BYN are ready for any challenge. If you'd like to keep up with BYN Chemical, please follow us here on LinkedIn, on Facebook (below), or on Twitter (@BYNLtd).

Here is our company website, by the way. Feel free to have a look at our wonderful selection of chemicals.

Further Reading:

European Parliament's adopted resolution: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2022-0077_EN.pdf