Directive 2006/66/EC was the European Union’s primary legislative framework for batteries and accumulators, governing the placing on the market, collection, treatment, recycling, and disposal of batteries across all applications. It was in force from 2006 until August 2025, when it was fully repealed and replaced by the EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542), which introduced a significantly more comprehensive and ambitious framework for sustainable battery management throughout the lifecycle.
Legislation type: EU Directive
Reference: Directive 2006/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
In force: 2006–2025
Repealed by: EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 (effective August 2025)
Amended by: Directive 2013/56/EU (cadmium and mercury content limits)
Scope
Directive 2006/66/EC applied to all batteries and accumulators placed on the EU market regardless of chemistry, size, or application — covering portable batteries, industrial batteries, and automotive batteries. It set requirements for restricted substances (prohibiting batteries containing more than 0.0005% mercury by weight, and portable batteries containing more than 0.002% cadmium), producer responsibility for collection and recycling, minimum collection rate targets, recycling efficiency targets, and labelling requirements including the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol and capacity marking.
Key Requirements
The directive required member states to achieve minimum battery collection rates (25% by 2012, 45% by 2016 for portable batteries) and set recycling efficiency targets for lead-acid batteries (65% by weight), nickel-cadmium batteries (75% by weight), and other battery types (50% by weight). Producers were required to finance collection, treatment, and recycling operations through producer responsibility schemes. All batteries were required to be removable from equipment to enable end-of-life collection and recycling.
Transition to 2023/1542
The EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542) replaced Directive 2006/66/EC with a much more comprehensive framework covering the entire battery value chain. The Regulation introduced mandatory carbon footprint declarations, minimum recycled content requirements, battery passport requirements, extended producer responsibility, and enhanced end-of-life targets — going well beyond the narrower scope of the 2006 Directive. Products that were compliant under the Directive required reassessment against the Regulation’s new requirements as the various obligations came into force in phases from 2023 onwards.
Disclaimer: This is not a definitive guide, just an indication and it is important that you always go back to the source for legislation.
See also: EU Battery Regulation, RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU)