Simplification: Council agrees position to ‘stop-the-clock’ on due diligence rules for batteries 13:03 Member sta...

Member states’ representatives (Coreper) approved today the Council’s position on one of the Commission’s proposals to simplify EU rules and thus boost EU competitiveness in the field of batteries. The main goal is to postpone by two years the date of application of relevant due diligence obligations to allow economic operators placing batteries on the EU market more time to prepare. The proposal forms part of the so-called ‘Omnibus IV’ package adopted by the Commission on 21 May 2025 to simplify legislation, as part of the EU’s broader effort to support industrial competitiveness by reducing regulatory complexity. Simplification has always been at the top of our priorities throughout the Polish presidency. Today’s agreement is a first step towards helping the EU’s batteries industry better prepare for the challenges of battery due diligence obligations and, thus, becoming more competitive in the global arena. Adam Szłapka, Minister for the European Union of Poland As part of the EU’s battery regulation, adopted in 2023, battery producers are obliged to publicly report on their due diligence practices to prevent or reduce batteries’ adverse impacts on the environment, including their waste management. The Commission proposal provides additional time to battery makers and exporters to comply with these new environmental due diligence rules by extending the deadline from 18 August 2025 to 18 August 2027. The postponement will also offer more time for the setting up of...