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Safe non-food consumer Products in the EU and China
SPEAC

Safe non-food consumer Products in the EU and China

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SPEAC

Safe non-food consumer Products in the EU and China

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Power supplies, chargers, and adaptors

Power supplies, chargers, and adaptors

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Product definition

This factsheet applies to power supplies, chargers and adaptors designed to convert AC power input from the AC mains into one or more lower voltage DC or AC outputs. It is used to supply one or more separate devices that constitute the primary load and it is connected to these with cables, cords or other wirings. It is contained in a separate enclosure.

A battery charger is a device that is intended for charging rechargeable batteries. These are removed from the charger and connected to the device they supply when it is used.

This factsheet applies to products that are supplied from AC mains. It also includes chargers sold with batteries.

This factsheet applies to products with a voltage rating up to 1.000 V AC or 1.500 V DC. Appliances incorporating batteries are also covered by the factsheet.

NB: For this product category, EU law does not foresee mandatory certification.

Common risks of power supplies, chargers and adaptors

The most common risks identified in this product sector are set out below.

1. Electrical risks

  • Electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic disturbances emitted from the electronics can adversely affect persons, domestic animals, property and nearby electrical products.
  • Poorly insulated wires or electric parts can give the user an electric shock.
  • Inadequately fixed wires or parts may touch and energize parts that the user touches and receives an electric shock.
  • Sharp edges in the product may over time cut through the insulation of electric wires thereby energising touchable metal parts that can give the user an electric shock.

2. Thermal risks:

  • Hot surfaces can cause burns.
  • Poorly insulated or fixed wires or substandard components can short circuit and create arcs or overheating, leading to fire.

3. Mechanical risks:

  • High sound pressure levels can cause damage to hearing.
  • Heavy products that are unstable can fall over and cause injuries.
  • Poor mechanical construction so that heavy equipment intended to be hung on a wall can fall down and cause injuries.
  • Surfaces, edges, corners with sharp edges, or other flaws can cause injuries.
  • Rotating parts can cause injuries while spinning.

4. Optical risks

  • Optical radiation (primarily lasers or blue light sources in the product) can cause damage to sight.
Further risks if the power supplier, charger or adaptor contains batteries
  • Short-circuits in the internal wiring or electronics can cause overheating of batteries or explosion, leading to leakage of dangerous chemicals.
  • Accessible small batteries (AAA or smaller) can be put in the mouth and swallowed, causing choking and damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
See further risks

This is a list of examples of common risks. However, the manufacturer has to carry out an assessment of the power supplier, charger or adaptor that covers all relevant risks that may be associated with the product and actions taken to mitigate these risks where possible. A general definition of risk and its relationship to hazards can be found in the factsheet on Risk management. 

Examples of dangerous products

Specific examples of measures taken against dangerous power supplier, charger or adaptor offered for sale in the European Union are available on the Safety Gate website. Type ‘power supplier’, ‘charger’ or ‘adaptor’ into the free text search box (but without the quotation marks) and select the ‘electrical appliances and equipment’ Product Category to view notified examples. A better understanding of mistakes made in the safety assessment on the power supplier, charger or adaptor or its manufacture can help avoid their repetition.

Main applicable legislation

These products are governed mainly by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). The Directive lays down the safety criteria that all power supplies, chargers and adaptors must meet before they can be marketed in the EU. Power supplies, chargers and adaptors must comply with the essential safety requirements set out in this Directive. More specific details can be found here.

Moreover, all electric products should comply with these two pieces of legislation:

  • EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) – lays down requirements for emission of electromagnetic disturbances to the environment and immunity to electromagnetic disturbances in the surrounding environment.
  • RoHS 2 Directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) – restricts the use of certain substances and chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment.

If the product can communicate wirelessly (e.g. incorporates Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), it should meet the requirements of the Radio Equipment Directive. Electromagnetic immunity and disturbances for products incorporating a communications device are dealt with under this directive. The Radio Equipment Directive also handles electric safety for products inside as well as outside the voltage limits in the Low Voltage Directive.

If the product doesn’t employ radio communication and it operates on a voltage below the limits specified in the Low Voltage Directive, then the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) applies.

Applicable standards

“European standards” exist in the EU for power suppliers, chargers and adaptors. Power suppliers, chargers and adaptors  complying with these standards are presumed to be in conformity with the essential safety requirements set out in the Low Voltage Directive if the standards are referenced in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

It is important to note that the latest edition of the standard referenced in the OJEU (including any amendments) applies.

Note: The following site of CEN CENELEC (the European standardisation organisation) provides links to the national standardisation bodies’ websites. In addition, the China Standards Information Services Network can be used to access European standards.

The following standards apply to power suppliers, chargers and adaptors (and others may apply in specific circumstances):

EN 62368-1:2014

The standard describes safety requirements for audio/video, information and communication technology equipment including power supplies, chargers and adaptors.

EN 60335-2-29:2004

The standard describes safety requirements for battery chargers. It must be read in conjunction with EN 60335-1 that describes general safety requirements for household and similar electrical appliances.

EN 62311:2008

The standard describes measurement methods and safety requirements related to human exposure restrictions for electromagnetic fields (0 Hz – 300 GHz).

Further applicable standards if the power supplier, charger or adaptor contains batteries
  • EN 62133-1:2017
    Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes – Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications – Part 1: Nickel systems
  • EVS-EN 62133-2:2017+A1:2021
    Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acid electrolytes – Safety requirements for portable sealed secondary cells, and for batteries made from them, for use in portable applications – Part 2: Lithium systems
See further standards

Other legislation of relevance:

The following summarises some further key applicable laws:

  • Ecodesign regulations – establishes ecodesign requirements for energy-related products
  • Energy labelling regulations – establishes the requirements and criteria for energy labelling of energy-related products
  • Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) – establishes rules for treating of waste electrical and electronic equipment, to contribute to sustainable production and consumption
  • The REACH regulation restricts chemical substances in goods. REACH stands for “Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals”, and it places responsibility on the industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) maintains a list of substances of very high concern (the “SVHC list”). According to article 56(1) of the Regulation, manufacturers shall not place products containing any of the substances on this list on the market. The updated list of substances of very high concern can be found on ECHA’s website.
  • Please note that every product must be safe for the consumers according to the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). If an electric product is unsafe, and that particular aspect is not regulated by the Low Voltage Directive, then the General Product Safety Regulation applies. This particularly applies to electrical products outside of the voltage limits specified in the Low Voltage Directive and without radio communication.
Additional legislation of relevance if the product contains batteries
  • The Battery Regulation: Batteries commonly contain hazardous substances such as mercury, cadmium and lead, which when incinerated or placed in landfill can present a risk to the environment and human health. As a result, this Regulation sets maximum quantities for certain chemicals and metals in certain batteries and creates rules covering matters such as labelling, documentation and marking requirements
Additional legislation of relevance if the product contains batteries

Mandatory labelling & warnings

The following are obligatory:

  • CE Marking is obligatory for all power suppliers, chargers and adaptors that fall within the scope of the LVD. Before marking the power supplier, charger or adaptor with the CE mark, the manufacturer needs to identify all the applicable legal requirements, verify the conformity of the power supplier, charger or adaptor with these requirements, compile a technical documentation that evidences this and create a written declaration of conformity. When this has been done, he should affix the CE mark on the product. Refer to the factsheet on CE marking.
  • Information on the manufacturer and the importer is obligatory.
  • The crossed-out wheel bin is obligatory for all electronics to indicate that it must be disposed of according to the rules for handling of waste from electronic and electrical equipment.

icon of a crossed-out wheel bin

Safety warnings and instructions are obligatory for many types of power suppliers, chargers and adaptors to draw attention of users to risks and how to avoid injury.

General safety requirements

To ensure that manufacturers produce only safe power suppliers, chargers or adaptors there are also a range of general requirements to be fulfilled. These are explained in the following factsheets and need to be read in conjunction with this factsheet:

The product is sold online

You may also visit the SPEAC ACADEMY to learn more about the EU Safety requirements.

Disclaimer

The provided information was updated in 2026. Please note that some of the provided information could change during possible subsequent revisions of legislation, standards, and guidance documents. For any updates of official information on the EU product safety rules, please follow the Link to the webpage of the European Commission.

This document was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of SPEAC project and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.