BYM News reports today that ICOM have issued a Press Release claiming that on the 26th September 2008, a new EU directive comes into force preventing the importation of Ni-Cd and other batteries into Europe.

Can anyone confirm/deny this?

If it is true, then anyone with a rechargeable Ni-Cd battery dependent product [like some older VHF Handheld radios for example] who thinks that they might need a replacement battery in the near future had best buy one soon, before stocks already in the country run out.

However, since Ni-Cds deteriorate even if not used, the Catch 22 is that, if your present battery is still fine but you prudently buy a replacement for the day when it dies, you may find when that day comes that the replacement has also died or lost much of its charge retention capacity!

And, if there are any new products still being delivered with Ni-Cds [as opposed to the newer NiMH and Lithium -Iron re-chargeable batteries], I can imagine that retailers & manufacturers will be keen to offload them at the forthcoming Southampton & London boat shows, without necessarily explaining the reason why to prospective customers!

So, if that bargain product depends on rechargeable batteries, best check what type they are!

Lithium-Iron
NiMH [Nickel Metal Hydride]

Here is a link to a very useful "Do and don't" table covering Ni-Cd, NiMH and Li-Ion as well conventional lead acid batteries:
http://tinyurl.com/6pb794
or if you are nervous about links like this, you can search
http://www.batteryuniversity.com for it for yourselves.

Nigel's point is true if the batteries in question are generic size, eg AA, AAA, but what if they are not? ie they are specific in size and fit to one manufacturers' particular product, as, for example, is the case with many VHF handheld radios, including ICOM.