Which products this covers
Portable power stations, solar power banks, rechargeable lanterns and headlamps, air beds with a rechargeable pump, and any other camping product with a built-in lithium cell. The obligations grow with the size of the battery, but even a small headlamp brings batteries into the picture.
The EU Battery Regulation
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 has applied since 18 February 2024, and its parts phase in by date:
- 18 August 2024: conformity assessment (Art. 17) and operators’ obligations (Chapter VI)
- 18 August 2025: extended producer responsibility (confirm the details for each country you sell in)
- 18 August 2026, or 18 months after the implementing act, whichever is later: labelling (Art. 13)
- 18 February 2027: removability of portable batteries (Art. 11), with exceptions still being worked out
Importers have specific duties under Art. 41. The removability date matters if you are planning a line of small products with sealed cells for 2027, so ask early.
Documents to ask for
- UN 38.3 test summary for the exact cell or pack
- CE declaration of conformity, with EMC and LVD reports where they apply, and RoHS
- Cell type, capacity in Wh and battery manufacturer
- Battery labelling and take-back information for your countries
- Manual and safety warnings in the local language
If a supplier cannot produce these for the model you want, choose another model.
Shipping
Lithium batteries ship as dangerous goods. LiFePO4 is safer in some respects, but it remains a lithium battery for transport. Not every carrier or route accepts them, packaging and declarations have to be right, and the cost is higher than for ordinary goods. Air is the most restricted. Samples follow the same rules, so plan for that as well. We confirm the carrier and route for each shipment and show the cost in the offer.
Marketing claims
Capacity, output and cycle life are the numbers customers compare. Measure capacity and output on a sample, and do not repeat cycle-life or fast-charging claims without something to back them up. Bluetooth or other wireless functions need their own check.
Warranty and returns
Decide who handles warranty and how a faulty unit gets back. A returned battery is also a dangerous goods shipment. Consider spare chargers and cables, and agree the service plan with the factory before launch.
If it is your own brand
A company selling under its own name counts as the manufacturer under GPSR Art. 13, and the Battery Regulation’s manufacturer duties are something to check with your adviser. Many sellers begin with unbranded lower-capacity models and move to their own brand later.
See what we supply in power and pumps, or read how we ship them on the logistics page.
