Duty overview - rechargeable batteries

Applies to loose rechargeable portable batteries such as NiMH AA/AAA cells and to rechargeable portable batteries built into products. Product design for user replacement remains on the separate replaceable-design page.

Requirement Cell Manual Packaging QR Article
Brandname / producer identification ✓ — ✓ ✓ Art. 13(1)
battery category and model identifier ✓ — ✓ ✓ Art. 13(1)
place and date of manufacture: YYYY-MM-XX ✓ — ✓ ✓ Annex VI
weight, chemistry, relevant substances and critical raw materials ✓ — ✓ ✓ Art. 13(1)
capacity in mAh; add Wh for Li-ion packs and products where energy content matters ✓ — ✓ ✓ Art. 13(2)
CE, crossed-out wheeled bin, lot/serial code ✓ — ✓ ✓ Art. 13(4)-(5)
safe charging, use and storage instructions — ✓ — — Art. 12
heat, fire, short-circuit and child-safety warnings — ✓ — — Art. 12
disposal and separate collection instructions — ✓ — — Art. 12
replacement or service information where the battery is built in — ✓ — — Art. 11
link to online battery information and QR target page — ✓ — ✓ Art. 13(6)
complete manufacturer and importer details — — ✓ ✓ Art. 38
model, lot, manufacturing place and manufacturing date — — ✓ ✓ Art. 38
capacity, voltage, Wh where relevant, chemistry and weight — — ✓ ✓ Annex VI
composition, hazardous substances and critical raw materials over 0.1% — — ✓ ✓ Annex VI
safety, charging, recycling and disposal warnings — — ✓ ✓ Art. 12
GTIN/SKU, model, producer, importer — — — ✓ Art. 13(6)
capacity, voltage, Wh, chemistry and weight — — — ✓ Annex VI
manufacturing place and manufacturing date — — — ✓ Annex VI
safety, charging, replacement and recycling information — — — ✓ Art. 13(6)
compliance links and document references — — — ✓ Art. 13(6)
No requirements found.
Art. 13(1): general information for all batteries Art. 13(2): capacity marking for rechargeable portable batteries Art. 13(4)-(7): QR, symbols and small-battery handling Annex VI Part A: battery label data fields Art. 11: replaceable design where battery is built into product

Examples

Loose rechargeable AA/AAA cells

Example: rechargeable NiMH AA or AAA cells sold as loose batteries or in a blister pack.

Brandname
AA / HR6 NiMH
Rechargeable battery
1.2V 2000mAh
Energy: 2.4Wh
LOT: HR6260513A
MFG: YYYY-MM-XX
Weight: XX g
AA
CE mark Separate collection symbol
Shown on cell / jacket if space allows 
Brandname
AA / HR6 NiMH
Rechargeable battery
1.2V 2000mAh
Energy: 2.4Wh
LOT: HR6260513A
MFG: YYYY-MM-XX
Weight: XX g
Imp: IMPORTER GmbH
CE
[crossed-out wheeled bin]
For rechargeable AA/AAA cells, capacity in mAh is the key practical marking. Wh can be added as calculated energy content: Wh = nominal voltage x Ah. If the full importer or manufacturer block does not fit, move full details to packaging or an accompanying document.

Built-in rechargeable batteries

Example: compact power bank, speaker, flashlight, shaver, toy, or small household device with a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery.

Product / rating label example 
Model: PB-LITE-01
Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion battery
Nominal voltage: 3.7V
Rated capacity: 2200mAh
Energy: 8.14Wh
Lot / Serial: PB260513A
MFG: YYYY-MM-XX
Weight: XX g
CE
[crossed-out wheeled bin]
Built-in rechargeable batteries need the normal battery label information plus product-level documentation. The battery, host product, packaging, manual, and digital QR information must be treated as one compliance package.

Capacity marking: mAh and Wh

What the EU rule says
  • From the label trigger date, rechargeable portable batteries must carry capacity information.
  • For AA/AAA rechargeable cells, mAh is the normal supplier-facing capacity value.
  • The Regulation does not state that every rechargeable portable battery must show both mAh and Wh as a fixed double unit.
Practical Mega Step artwork rule
  • For loose AA/AAA NiMH: show mAh; add Wh where space allows.
  • For Li-ion packs, power banks, and built-in battery products: show both mAh and Wh.
  • Formula: Wh = nominal voltage x Ah. Example: 3.7V x 2.2Ah = 8.14Wh.
This keeps the supplier artwork practical while avoiding a false statement that Wh is always explicitly required by Article 13(2) for every rechargeable portable battery.

What still belongs on packaging and documents

Packaging / manual / online information
Loose rechargeable AA/AAA
  • full manufacturer and importer details if they do not fit on the cell
  • model / IEC code, lot, chemistry, voltage, mAh, and optional Wh
  • charging, storage, short-circuit, child-safety, and disposal warnings
  • future QR target page and linked compliance information
Built-in rechargeable batteries
  • full manufacturer name, address, website, and email
  • full importer name, address, website, and email
  • product-specific battery service information where applicable
  • safety information for use, charging, storage, and disposal
  • future QR target page and linked digital product information
  • later battery label data under Annex VI Part A and capacity label logic
Do not mix the two cases: loose rechargeable AA/AAA cells are a battery artwork problem; built-in rechargeable batteries are a battery plus product documentation problem.

What the manual and online page must cover

Manual / insert
  • how to use and charge the product safely
  • where to find the separate replaceable-design and service information, where applicable
  • fire, heat, short-circuit, and child-safety warnings
  • disposal and separate collection instructions
Permanent online information
  • link to the replaceable-design guide, where applicable
  • battery safety and disposal information
  • future QR-linked product page structure
  • later DoC and compliance references
QR-Code

QR code and digital product information

Same requirements for all portable batteries. The QR code links to a target page with identification, label data, contacts, safety and recycling per Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.

  • suitable for later product database connection
  • language selection in the page header
  • safety, recycling and compliance information
  • for private-label products: show actual producer/factory in addition to brand and importer
  • for small cells: place QR on packaging or accompanying documents when the cell is too small
Important for suppliers: brand, actual producer/factory and EU importer must remain clearly separated and traceable on the QR target page.
Clickable example target page