EU Expands Exemptions on Battery RegulationsRecently, the European Commission announced that it has expanded the list of exemptions to the EU Battery Regulation. The objective of the legislation is to extend product lifespans, reduce electronic waste, improve repairability, and make battery recycling significantly easier. Instead of allowing end users to replace batteries themselves, battery replacement for wearable devices will be limited to independent professional repairers. Wearable devices are often the products most affected by battery degradation, with the battery frequently determining the useful lifespan of the entire device. This forces users to purchase replacements that may not otherwise have been necessary, increasing costs while also generating additional electronic waste.