Radio equipment

Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

The European Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU has superseded the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive 1999/5/EC and is in force since 13th June 2016. The Directive mainly provides the conditions for placing radio equipment on the Union market.

The Directive 2014/53/EU can be read in English (pdf) or in Swedish (pdf).

The RED has been implemented in Sweden by the following national regulations (only available in Swedish):

Key Changes

Some of the key changes are described as follows:

Scope of the RED

  • Broadcast radio and TV receivers are within the scope of the RED
  • The radio frequency spectrum covered by the RED now has no lower limit (it was previously covering the range from 9 kHz up to 3000 GHz)
  • It has been made clear that products that transmit and receive radio waves for the purpose of radio determination are within the scope of the RED
  • Fixed line terminal equipment is outside the scope of the RED and falls now under the scope of the LVD and EMC Directive
  • Radio equipment falling within the scope of the RED is not subject to the LVD and EMC Directive (see Article 1.4 RED and Article 2.2(a) EMCD)

Technical Requirements

  • Radio equipment shall be so constructed that it both effectively uses and supports the efficient use of radio spectrum in order to avoid harmful interference (Article 3.2), which includes receiver requirements in order to achieve a minimum level of performance in order to contribute to an efficient use of radio spectrum

Economic Operators´Requirements

  • Clear obligations for manufacturers, importers and distributors have been introduces
  • Furthermore, traceability obligations for manufacturers, importers and distributors have been introduced in order to strengthen market surveillance
  • In the case of re-branding, the owner of the appearing brand undertakes all responsibilities of the original manufacturer. The same applies if an economic operator modifies radio equipment in such a way that compliance with this Directive may be affected.

Administrative Requirements

  • Equipment instructions, in the case of radio equipment intentionally emitting radio waves, shall include information about the frequency band(s) and the maximum radio-frequency power transmitted in the frequency band(s) in which the radio equipment operates
  • Instructions shall include, where applicable, a description of accessories and components, including software, which allow the radio equipment to operate as intended
  • In addition to type, batch, model, serial number or other identification number, the name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and the postal address of the manufacturer shall be on the product
  • The CE marking shall be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the radio equipment. It shall also be affixed visibly and legibly to the packaging, but the CE marking does not need to be affixed to the document accompanying the radio equipment
  • A copy of the Declaration of Conformity (complete or simplified) has to accompany the product
  • RED provides also the templates for complete and simplified EU DoC (Annex VI and Annex VII)

Conformity Assesments

  • Regarding the conformity assessment for the protection of health and safety in Article 3.1(a), the reasonably foreseeable conditions of use shall be taken into account.

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