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.
They could have been, though. It’s a shame manufacturers went for sealed in batteries instead because it saves them money and forces people to buy a new device or pay exorbitant fees for a replacement- so it’s a win win for them.
I will never understand why people defend sealed batteries, or other feature removal like removable storage. they have -zero- cons for the consumer and anyone who thinks they do have been duped by Apple-style advertising and marketing. Reminds me of the Onion video about the new MacBook Wheel.