Apple may be forced to redesign its products currently without user-serviceable batteries, such as the iPhone and iPod line, in order to be in compliance with the European Union's New Batteries Directive. The NBD, being drafted now, updates existing battery rules made part of 2006's Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, which prohibited certain toxic materials like lead and mercury in products and itself forced Apple action, including withdrawing the iSight camera from the market. According to the proposed NBD rules, batteries must be easily removable in order to safely dispose of them. Although Apple already provides free recycling for its products, it doesn't appear as if that effort will satisfy strict NBD requirements. Reporters speculate that compliance with the EU may lead to replaceable batteries in all of Apple's products, as the company is not known for producing region-specific versions of its hardware.

[Via Gizmodo]