The European Union has revised its regulations requiring "easily removable and replaceable" batteries in certain devices, now exempting wearable technology like the Apple Watch and AirPods. This exemption, under Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670, acknowledges safety concerns and technical limitations.

Devices like the Apple Watch and Meta smart glasses are now exempt due to operational conditions, such as potential exposure to wet or humid environments, where user battery replacement could pose safety hazards. Similar exemptions apply to electric toys and industrial devices where battery removal might create risks, such as choking hazards for children or explosion risks in specific environments.

Furthermore, items that cannot be redesigned with current technology, like the compact AirPods, are also exempt. A Commission spokesperson clarified that these changes aim to ensure safer products where opening a device could create risks or where consumer access is technically unrealistic, not to favor specific businesses. The regulations remain in effect for other devices, with some, like the Nintendo Switch 2, expected to comply with user-replaceable batteries by 2027.