INDUSTRY NEWS

On July 17, 2025, the CPSC and Canada’s recall system issued aligned notices for iStore magnetic wireless power banks after reports of overheating while charging, citing fire and burn hazards. The recall stands out for its clear model/UPC identification and cross-border consistency, reinforcing how quickly magnetic wireless power banks can become a high-scrutiny safety topic in 2025.

IATA confirms that from January 1, 2026, lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment must be offered for air transport at a State of Charge (SoC) not exceeding 30%. This shifts SoC from a best-practice concept into an operational compliance checkpoint, increasing the likelihood of holds or rework if charge levels are not controlled and verified before tender.

In January 2025, the EU Official Journal published the European Commission’s guidance (C/2025/214) on how to apply Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Article 11, covering portable battery removability and replaceability. The document clarifies what “end-user replaceable” means in practice, when limited derogations may apply, and emphasizes that software should not create barriers to battery replacement.

In October 2025, the European Commission advanced the EU Common Charger roadmap by linking it more directly to updated ecodesign rules, signalling that interoperability is being reinforced not only through device ports but also through chargers, wireless charging products, and USB-C cables. The move highlights a shift toward ecosystem-level compliance that aims to reduce fragmentation and make charging performance more predictable.

WPC officially launched Qi2 25W based on Qi v2.2.1, pushing wireless charging into a faster tier tied to certification. The market now watches Android adoption speed and whether certified accessories can deliver 25W performance with controlled heat.

In October 2025, the European Commission adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 under the ecodesign framework, expanding market requirements across external power supplies, wireless chargers, general-use portable battery chargers, and USB Type-C cables, while repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/1782. The move signals a broader push toward measurable energy-efficiency baselines and more predictable charging ecosystem performance.

USB-IF added USB Power Delivery Specification Revision 3.2 Version 1.1 to its official Document Library, reinforcing the baseline reference used by manufacturers and labs for USB-C PD interoperability and certification. The update highlights growing emphasis on predictable negotiation behavior, multi-port power sharing consistency, and tighter alignment between declared PD versions and real firmware implementation.

Health Canada opened a pre-consultation (Dec 2, 2025 to Feb 14, 2026) on introducing mandatory safety requirements for lithium-ion batteries and battery-containing consumer products under CCPSA. The notice cites incident and recall data and outlines possible routes such as third-party certification and referencing standards like CSA 62133-2, UL 1642, and UL 2054.

UL published ANSI/UL 62368-1:2025 (Fourth Edition), refreshing the North American safety baseline for AV/ICT products. The update mainly affects certification planning, lab expectations, and documentation alignment across consumer electronics supply chains.

EU smartphone labels began applying in 2025, adding standardized battery lifespan information and a repairability score to make durability claims easier to compare at point of sale. The shift increases transparency pressure on brands to align declared label information with testing and documentation.

EU smartphone rules now standardise how battery lifespan and endurance information is displayed on labels, making longevity claims easier to compare and harder to exaggerate. This shift increases scrutiny on battery-related marketing and pushes brands toward clearer, more verifiable durability messaging.

In 2025, the EU begins applying battery information and transparency requirements under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 in market supervision, making battery capacity representation, performance consistency, and product identification key reference points in compliance checks.

USB-IF has updated the USB Type-C Cable Specification to more clearly define current stability under sustained load conditions, refining how cable performance is evaluated in Power Delivery applications and improving consistency across certification and interoperability testing.

UL 62368-1:2025 introduces stricter safety expectations for chargers and power banks, pushing buyers to focus on thermal stability, protection design, and model-level certification rather than relying on legacy compliance.