MLA warns of 'creeping impact' of EU rules - as some iPhone sales banned in Northern Ireland
An MLA has warned that consumers in Northern Ireland are losing out this Christmas – after it emerged that some iPhones are no longer available here due to EU rules under the Windsor Framework.
Smartphones which don’t use EU-mandated chargers can no longer be sold in the province, unlike in the rest of the UK.
Diana Armstrong says while it is another “tangible difficulty” for Northern Irish consumers, it is part of a much wider issue about “the creeping impact of EU digital and technology directives in Northern Ireland”.
The UUP politician has warned about the risk of the current arrangements undermining the UK’s internal market – and urged vigilance on new regulations, particularly on artificial intelligence.
The issue arose after an EE customer contacted the News Letter to say that he was unable to order an iPhone 13 or 14, because of the ‘lightning’ charging cable they use – and instead had to order a more expensive model, which does meet Brussels-imposed rules.
Under the Windsor Framework, Northern Ireland is subject to the EU’s Common Charger Directive - through special Westminster legislation to keep the province in line with the rules in the Republic, and across the EU.
It means all new devices sold in the EU - and Northern Ireland - must now support USB-C charging. These rules don't apply in the rest of the UK.
A search of a number of mobile phone retailers shows that certain handsets are excluded from sale in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Armstrong – the Ulster Unionist Party’s economy spokesperson – told the News Letter: “This situation highlights yet another tangible difficulty Northern Ireland consumers face under the Windsor Framework.
“While the EU’s Common Charger Directive was long in development and broadly welcomed for reducing electronic waste and simplifying charging, its implementation here creates an effective charging cable border and short divergence until such a time as UK moves to align... which they have already started.
“Although practically for many struggling families and indeed in run up to Christmas this is an extra expense many cannot afford.
“The reality though is that a charging cable border was never the reality people were promised when ‘others’ sold us mistruths, but this is part of a much wider debate about the creeping impact of EU digital and technology directives in Northern Ireland.
“We need to be vigilant to ensure these rules do not undermine our place in the UK’s internal market where technology developments such as Artificial Intelligence are already ahead of the EU and aren’t as heavily regulated.”
When the issue was raised in parliament last year by the TUV MP Jim Allister, the government said that the legislation was “expected to have limited impact in practice”.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Justin Madders, told MPs: “Many manufacturers have already moved to USB-C to continue to supply the European Union market and, as a result, USB-C has effectively become the industry default in Europe”.
The Labour minister added: “Devices that comply with common charger requirements will also be able to be legally placed on the GB market, so we consider it highly likely that the same devices will be available across the whole UK”.
Mr Madders said: “We consider that it could help businesses and deliver consumer and environmental benefits, if we were to introduce a similar standardised requirement across the UK. Accordingly, we have launched a call for evidence on that issue. The implementation of common charger measures in Northern Ireland also ensures our compliance with international law, which facilitates Northern Ireland’s continued unique dual access to the UK internal market and the EU single market”.
The Westminster legislation which applied the EU charging cable ruled to Northern Ireland – the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 – was opposed by Mr Allister and the Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann.
Mr Allister told MPs that the legislation covers “a vast array” of things, including “baby alarms, the alarms that hang around an elderly person’s neck, and the smartphones in our pockets”.
He said it was “absurd and wrong” that the government was passing legislation because it had to do so under the Windsor Framework, “whether we like it or not”.
The industry is expected to move to USB-C charging cables in the UK, although the government has not yet mandated their use as is the case in the EU.