The Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/1053), published on legislation.gov.uk on 25 September 2026, give domestic effect in Northern Ireland to the EU Batteries Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries.
How Northern Ireland Applies the EU Batteries Regulation
The Statutory Instrument replaces the 2008 Batteries Regulations in Northern Ireland. It sets obligations for manufacturers, importers, distributors, authorised representatives and fulfilment service providers, conformity assessment through UK notified bodies, and the UK(NI) marking alongside CE marking.
Enforcement includes summary and either-way offences with fines up to the statutory maximum and, in the most serious cases, imprisonment of up to 12 months, plus powers for courts to order remediation and recovery of enforcement costs.
What’s New
- Replaces the 2008 NI batteries placing-on-the-market regime with enforcement of the full EU Batteries Regulation in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
- Adds the UK(NI) conformity marking route via UK notified bodies.
- Attaches a modern criminal enforcement regime, with fines and up to 12 months’ imprisonment for the most serious cases.
- General provisions come into force 22 days after the instrument is made; provisions tied to Article 11 (removability and replaceability of portable batteries) commence when Article 11 of the EU Regulation applies.
- Transitional provision is made for batteries already placed on the market.
Key Dates & Timeline
Who and What Is in Scope
Industries: Light duty vehicles · Heavy duty vehicles · Automotive components · Batteries · Electrical and electronic equipment · Distribution and e-commerce fulfilment
Who is affected: Any OEM or tier supplier placing batteries or battery-containing vehicles or equipment on the Northern Ireland market, their NI importers and distributors, and UK notified bodies.
Products and standards in scope: All battery categories placed on the Northern Ireland market; no de-minimis.
Requirements and restrictions: Compliance with the EU Batteries Regulation as applied in Northern Ireland, the UK(NI) marking route where UK notified bodies are used, and the new offences and penalties.
What Companies Should Do
- Map which of your batteries and battery-containing products reach the Northern Ireland market.
- Confirm conformity assessment routes and whether UK(NI) marking is needed alongside CE marking.
- Brief NI importers and distributors on the new offences and obligations.
- Note the transitional provision for batteries already on the market.
Northern Ireland now has a domestic enforcement regime for the EU Batteries Regulation. Suppliers selling into NI should confirm their conformity route and marking before the general provisions come into force.
Related: California SB 501 Expands Battery EPR | EPR and PPWR compliance services
legislation.gov.uk — The Batteries (Placing on the Market) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1053/contents/made
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