It had been in the works for a while, but now it has formally been adopted. From the article:
The regulation provides that by 2027 portable batteries incorporated into appliances should be removable and replaceable by the end-user, leaving sufficient time for operators to adapt the design of their products to this requirement.
That’s absolutely not true. You cannot replace the battery of a flagship phone for $10 anywhere. The going rate at Best buy is $60. And some will flatly refuse because they don’t have the tools because Apple and others use ridiculous proprietary screws. Or intentionally stick a bunch of glue on the battery. Requiring repair shops to use heat, adding a huge degree of risk, and adding to the cost of the repair.
Please tell me a place where they will replace a battery for $10. Batteries themselves usually retail for $20 and then you have to account for labor.
Well I love compact phones sales suggest that they do not do very well. S10e and iPhone mini have been discontinued for that reason.
You are just including the cost of the battery. That’s completely unrelated. You are all acting like there is this huge barrier to getting an inexpensive replacement.