Chile USB-C Charger Regulation: New Rule for 11 Devices

Chile USB-C Charger Regulation: What Manufacturers Must Know

Chile has joined the growing list of jurisdictions mandating a single charging standard for consumer electronics. The Ministerio de Economía, Fomento y Turismo published a new regulation in the Diario Oficial on May 13, 2026, establishing USB Type-C as the common charging receptacle for a defined list of mobile information and telecommunications devices. For manufacturers, importers, and OEMs supplying the Chilean market, the measure introduces both a technical conformity requirement and a set of consumer information obligations that take effect in phases beginning October 2026.

Regulatory Background

The regulation formally titled the rule on Common Interoperability between Mobile Information and Telecommunications Devices and Their Chargers, implements Law No. 21.695. That law amended Chile's consumer protection framework (Law No. 19.496) and tasked the Ministry of Economy with issuing the specific rules needed to give effect to the universal charger obligation.

Rather than writing bespoke national specifications, Chile has anchored the requirement to international standards developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) the same baseline adopted by the European Union and already used by the major global manufacturers. The regulation itself does not fix the technical specifications directly; instead, it refers to Chilean technical standards prepared by the Instituto Nacional de Normalización (INN) on the basis of two underlying IEC standards. These Chilean standards are to be made publicly available to any individual or company.

Technical Scope of the Chile USB-C Charger Regulation

The regulation designates USB Type-C as the common charging port for 11 categories of devices:

1. Mobile telephones

2. Laptop computers

3. Tablets

4. Digital cameras

5. Headphones and earphones

6. Portable game consoles

7. Portable speakers

8. E-readers

9. Keyboards

10. Computer mice

11. Portable navigation systems

    
    

Devices in scope must incorporate a USB Type-C charging receptacle that remains accessible and operational, though products may still include additional ports alongside it. By aligning with the international baseline rather than diverging from it, Chile aims to avoid creating technical requirements that differ from those in major markets, reducing adaptation costs and easing the entry of products that already comply elsewhere.

Alongside the hardware requirement, the regulation introduces consumer-information duties. Before the point of sale, suppliers must indicate through standardized pictograms and labels, whether a charger is included with the device, the device's charging capabilities, and whether it supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD) fast charging.

What This Means for Manufacturers

The practical effect is twofold. First, any in-scope device placed on the Chilean market after the relevant deadline must carry a USB Type-C charging port conforming to the referenced INN/IEC standards. Second, packaging and pre-sale information must be updated to meet the new labeling and disclosure rules.

Several points reduce the compliance burden for companies already selling into USB-C markets:

• Standards alignment. Because Chile references the same IEC basis as the EU, products that already meet the EU common charger directive should map closely to Chilean requirements, though conformity should be confirmed against the specific INN standards.

• No retroactive effect. The rule does not affect devices already purchased by consumers, nor the continued sale of chargers consumers already own. Obligations fall on suppliers placing new devices on the market from the effective dates.

• Evolving device list. Sernac (Servicio Nacional del Consumidor) is required to submit a technical report to the Ministry every two years assessing whether the list of regulated categories should be updated to reflect technological change — so the scope may expand over time.

Enforcement sits with Sernac. Suppliers offering a non-compliant new device after the applicable deadline would be in breach of the regulation.

Certification Impact Summary

Area	Impact
Applicable instrument	Regulation on Common Interoperability between Mobile Devices and Their Chargers, under Law No. 21.695
Technical basis	Chilean technical standards (INN) derived from two IEC international standards
Mandatory interface	USB Type-C charging receptacle, accessible and operational
Fast charging	Must disclose whether device supports USB Power Delivery (USB PD)
Labeling	Standardized pictograms/labels on charger inclusion and charging capabilities, pre-sale
Phase 1 effective date	October 2026 — new mobile phones
Phase 2 effective date	October 2028 — remaining 10 device categories
Enforcement authority	Sernac (Servicio Nacional del Consumidor)
Retroactivity	None; applies to new devices placed on market from effective dates
Relationship to EU	Aligned to the same IEC baseline as the EU common charger framework

Timeline and Required Actions

1. Now – Q3 2026: Confirm which of your products fall within the 11 regulated categories and identify the specific INN technical standards (and the underlying IEC standards) referenced by the regulation.

2. Now – Q3 2026: Audit your mobile phone lineup for Chile against the USB Type-C requirement; reconfirm conformity for products already compliant in the EU.

3. Before October 2026: Update packaging, labeling, and pre-sale information for mobile phones to include the required pictograms on charger inclusion, charging capabilities, and USB PD support.

4. October 2026: USB Type-C requirement and information duties become enforceable for new mobile phones sold in Chile.

5. 2026 – 2028: Extend the conformity and labeling review across the remaining 10 categories (laptops, tablets, cameras, headphones, portable game consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems).

6. Before October 2028: Complete USB Type-C transition and labeling updates for all remaining in-scope devices.

7. October 2028: Requirement becomes enforceable for the remaining device categories.

8. Ongoing: Monitor Sernac's biennial reviews, which may add new device categories to the regulated list.

   
   

Conclusion

Chile's adoption of USB Type-C as the common charging standard brings the country into line with the international direction set by the EU and the major device makers. For most manufacturers already shipping USB-C products, the technical transition should be manageable but the labeling and disclosure obligations, the phased deadlines, and Sernac enforcement warrant a structured compliance review well ahead of the October 2026 and October 2028 dates.