Reese’s Law impacts several US cycling & sports electronics firms from TODAY
In the USA from today (19 March) every company selling products with coin cell/button batteries must comply with Reese’s Law (P.L. 117-171). This directly affects several power meter companies like Stages, Garmin and 4iiii plus many other companies selling heart rate monitors like Garmin and Polar.
The law is relatively onerous and has packaging requirements, certification requirements, and further potential requirements to redesign the product. All of which take weeks to design and implement.
By way of an example, a CR2032 battery compartment must require multiple hand movements or tools to open it. Even if the product already meets this criterion (like Garmin Rally), instruction manuals and relevant warnings must also be included with the product at the point of sale. Furthermore, a Children’s Product Certificate (CPC) or General Certificate of Compliance (GCC) must be obtained.
This law was enacted some time ago and as of today, products must be compliant. Non-compliant products cannot be legally sold in the USA.
I know of a few companies, including one power meter company, who have overlooked compliance and have now temporarily halted sales as a result.
Yikes.
Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
- Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
It`s about time. Too many people have died in the past by wrongly inserting these vicious batteries, either in their devices or orifices. I am so glad, that the governments of this world tackle the real problems of our time! I will sleep better tonight.
totally overdone. In EU we have all of this already I guess. Opening the packaging requires a tool like a serious scissor or cutting pliers. Very irritating.
not sure about that in the uk/eu. i think there was someone pushing for a law on it on the radio last year (uk). i could be wrong
i suspect the biggest issue is people leaving batteries out rather than young kids removing them from devices. they do look like sweets…well, to a two year old they might