KWS Seuren prepares for new EU legislation: “Safety and transparency are no longer an afterthought”

To make its processes more professional, KWS Seuren has started the process towards ISO 9001 certification, guided by KAM Consultants. The certification lays the basis for standardised processes, continuous quality improvement and transparency towards customers, dealers and insurers.

“We don’t just want to re-cell batteries, we want to do it the right way,” Seuren stresses. “KAM Consultants is helping us set up that process in a structured and professional way. ISO 9001 will soon be not only a stamp of quality, but also proof that we are ready for the new European requirements.”

Completion of the certification process is planned for the first half of 2026.

Update February 2026: KWS Seuren is now ISO 9001:2015 certified. Read more in our news item on the certification.

KWS Seuren is also anticipating the stricter requirements for safety and storage. Battery storage is being set up in accordance with the new PGS37-2 guideline, the Dutch standard for the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries. For this, KWS uses shipping containers as fire-resistant compartments, placed within sturdy Legioblock concrete blocks.

“By compartmentalising the containers, we can effectively limit the risks in the event of fire or overheating,” Seuren explains. “PGS37-2 sets clear requirements for fire resistance, ventilation, detection and the separation of storage areas. We want to lead the way on that, not be overtaken by regulation.”

Update October 2026: the current version of the guideline is PGS 37-2:2023, version 1.1. How KWS Seuren works with it today, from intake and registration to charging, testing, storage and disposal, is set out on our page about PGS 37-2 and working safely with lithium-ion batteries.

At KWS Seuren, discarded batteries are collected responsibly through Stichting OPEN (formerly STIBAT), known in the Netherlands for its Wecycle programme. The batteries are kept in ADR-certified ASP containers, designed for the safe storage and transport of lithium batteries.

These containers are emptied regularly by ADR-certified carriers, so that the entire route, from collection to recycling, meets the legal requirements. “Everything we do is aimed at minimising risks,” says Seuren. “In doing so we follow Stichting OPEN’s procedures to the letter. Safety starts at collection, not only at recycling.”

An important new element of the EU Battery Regulation (2023/1542) is the mandatory digital battery passport, which takes effect on 18 February 2027. From then on, every battery for light electric vehicles (such as e-bikes) must carry a QR code that gives access to a digital file with technical information, origin, composition, safety instructions and recycling instructions.

KWS Seuren has already started preparing: the company is developing internal registration systems that link cell replacements, cell types and serial numbers to unique battery IDs.

“The battery passport is a big step forward,” says Seuren. “It makes the whole chain more transparent, from producer to recycler. We want our customers to know exactly what is in their battery, how it is built and how it can be processed safely.”

According to Seuren, the recent warning from the ILT (Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport, the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate) and from bicycle businesses shows that many companies still underestimate the impact of the new rules. “The time for improvising is over,” he says. “The EU regulation will soon prescribe exactly how batteries must be designed, dismantled, stored and registered. Companies that do not get ready for that now will be in trouble two years from now.”

KWS Seuren sees the stricter rules as an opportunity. By investing early in safety, certification and traceability, the company can set itself apart as a reliable cell replacement partner for both consumers and business customers, including ENRA Verzekeringen.

The developments at KWS Seuren fit a wider trend in the industry: more emphasis on safety, circularity and transparency in the supply chain. “It is not just about complying with rules,” Seuren concludes. “It is about taking responsibility. As a cell replacement company we work with products that are potentially dangerous. Then you have to do everything you can to handle them safely. And in the end that is exactly what customers value: reliability.”