(a) From 20 June 2025, manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives shall ensure that the process for replacement of the display assembly and of parts referred to in point 1(a), with the exception of the battery or batteries, meets the following criteria: [...]

[...]

(c) From 20 June 2025, manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives shall ensure that the process for battery replacement:

(i) meets the following criteria:

— fasteners shall be resupplied or reusable;

- the process for replacement shall be feasible with no tool, a tool or set of tools that is supplied with the product or spare part, or basic tools;

— the process for replacement shall be able to be carried out in a use environment;

— the process for replacement shall be able to be carried out by a layman.

(ii) or, as an alternative to point (i), ensure that:

— the process for battery replacement meets the criteria set out in (a);

— after 500 full charge cycles the battery must, in addition, have in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 83 % of the rated capacity;

— the battery endurance in cycles achieves a minimum of 1 000 full charge cycles, and after 1 000 full charge cycles the battery must, in addition, have in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 80 % of the rated capacity;

— the device is at least dust tight and protected against immersion in water up to one meter depth for a minimum of 30 minutes.

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So manufacturers must make the battery replaceable, or meet all the conditions from (a) for replacing non-battery components, and meet the 1000 cycle / 80% capacity requirement.

It was not said that Apple was exempted. What was said is that Apple complied with the exemption rules.

It appears what you're looking for is in B(5)(c)(ii).

> (c) From 20 June 2025, manufacturers, importers or authorised representatives shall ensure that the process for battery replacement:

> (i) meets the following criteria:

> — fasteners shall be resupplied or reusable;

> — the process for replacement shall be feasible with no tool, a tool or set of tools that is supplied with the product or spare part, or basic tools;

> — the process for replacement shall be able to be carried out in a use environment;

> — the process for replacement shall be able to be carried out by a layman.

> (ii) or, as an alternative to point (i), ensure that

> — the process for battery replacement meets the criteria set out in (a);

> — after 500 full charge cycles the battery must have in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 83 % of the rated capacity;

> — the battery endurance in cycles achieves a minimum of 1 000 full charge cycles, and after 1 000 full charge cycles the battery must, in addition, have in a fully charged state, a remaining capacity of at least 80 % of the rated capacity;

> — the device is at least dust tight and protected against immersion in water up to one meter depth for a minimum of 30 minutes.

P.S. I had posted same link twice.

Written by the sub-sub-sub subcommittee…

Europe will fall to the Russians, if the Russians can ever find it under all the piles of disused regulations.