Germany plans fewer mandatory checks for office kettles and charging cables
Published on 07/17/2026 at 07:24 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
That is the result of a so-called relief cabinet decision taken in mid-July, which the government says will save companies significant amounts of money.
The plan, however, is drawing scepticism from experts who question how it will work in practice. Their main objection is that there is still no legally binding text spelling out exactly when a “Gefährdungspotenzial” exists.
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Cabinet backs new rules on everyday office equipment
On 15 July, the cabinet agreed on a package of measures. Labour Minister Bas said extra inspections for routine office equipment such as kettles or charging cables should in future no longer be required. Under the change, electrical equipment would only have to be checked when there is a concrete Gefährdungspotenzial.
Until now, strict intervals applied to the so-called “E-Check”: in offices, devices have to be inspected every two years, while workshops and production facilities require yearly checks. The labour ministry estimates that moving to a risk-based system could save about 720 million Euro a year.
Critics say the practical details are still unclear
Despite the promised relief, criticism is growing. Experts point out that current rules such as DGUV Vorschrift 3 and the Technischen Regeln für Betriebssicherheit (TRBS 1201) already require employers to set inspection intervals based on risk.
The situation is especially unclear in the hospitality sector. Because of moisture and grease deposits in kitchens, the Gefährdungspotenzial is still considered high. Industry specialists are therefore advising affected businesses to keep their existing inspection intervals for now — otherwise they could lose insurance cover.
Wider relief package covers transport, digital services and building
The easing of electrical inspections is part of a broader package. The federal government says it will bring annual relief of about 600 million Euro. Since November 2024, more than 40 measures have been launched in total, with a combined relief volume of around 10.4 billion Euro.
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Other steps already agreed include:
- Mobility: the requirement for an environmental sticker for electric cars is to be scrapped. Truck driving bans are to apply in future only on nationwide public holidays
- Digitalisation: planned measures include electronic bank transfers, expansion of the electronic patient record (ePA) and more video appointments with the Jobcenter
- Construction and housing: by the end of 2026, the “Gebäudetyp E” is planned, allowing simpler and cheaper building
Business groups say pressure on government is still high
According to estimates by the Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag (DIHK), bureaucracy costs the German economy about 146 billion Euro in lost economic output each year. Business associations including the Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH) and the digital industry group Bitkom reacted with disappointment to the measures announced so far and called for greater ambition.
Other planned steps, such as a four-month approval fiction or the introduction of a reversal of the burden of proof, are still being coordinated.
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