New Radio Equipment Directive – Are you getting ready?

There is a new CE Marking Directive being implemented for radio equipment.

The Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU), which will be effective as of the 13^th June 2016, will repeal the Radio & Telecommunications Terminals Equipment Directive (1999/5/EC). The new directive is part of a series of directive changes which have come about in order to align in a common framework in the EU Decision No. 768/2008/EU and will have a transitional period extending to the 13^th June 2017.

This means that products that are compliant with the R&TTE directive which have been placed on the market before 13^th June 2016 are compliant until 13^th June 2017. Any new products coming onto the market after 13^th June 2016 must meet the new RED criteria if they come under the scope of the Radio Equipment Directive.

There are a number of changes between the old R&TTE Directive and the new Radio Equipment, so it is worth being prepared before the new Directive comes into force. A key change is that the RED excludes telecommunications terminal equipment (as these are now covered by the Low Voltage and EMC Directives) but there are other changes to the directive which include:

Audio, video and other receivers of radio frequencies meet a minimum requirement as to make more efficient use of the radio spectrum. Concise requirements for manufacturers, importers and distributors. Easier market surveillance, mostly for traceability of products back to the original vendors. Doing away with some administrative obligations, such as those in relation to non-harmonised frequency bands. Ensuring that software is only useable when it is demonstrated to be compliant with its intended radio equipment. Convergence towards a common charger for mobile phone devices. Increased range of equipment from 0Hz to 3000GHz. Requirements for intended use have been reworded to include “reasonably foreseen use”.

 

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