What is Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU? 

The Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R&TTE) 1999/5/EC has been in place for over 15 years now and has served the radio and telecoms world well. Over the last 15 years technology has made many advances in the wireless domain and new ways to ensure compliance was needed.

After review the new European Radio Equipment Directive (RED), 2014/53/EU was published in the Official Journal of the European Commission on May 22^nd 2014 which will repeal the R&TTE Directive by June 12^th 2016. After this date there is a one year period when either the R&TTE or RED Directive can be applied.

RED only applies to wireless devices as the Telecom equipment now falls under the EMC Directive and Low Voltage Directive.

You can download the Official Journal and directive for more details at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32014L0053

What are the significant changes?

• Clear obligations for manufacturers, importers and distributors
• Strengthened market surveillance, e.g., the traceability obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors
• Broadcast receivers now fall into the RED scope (they used to be in the EMC directive)
   
• No lower limit of the frequency range covered (in the R&TTE lower limit was 9 kHz), upper limit remains at 3000GHzNotified Body Opinion is replaced with “Type Examination Certificate”
•  
  Class 2 labeling (Alert Sign) no longer required, but usage restrictions in certain member states must still be show on the package.
  CE mark in the user manual no longer required, but manual must show RF Band and transmitter power.
•  
  Evaluation kits are now excluded (no approval required under RED)

Manufacturers should read Chapter II, Article 10, Obligations of manufacturers for declaration of conformity requirements and labeling rules that now require detailed contact information.

Importers should read Chapter II, Article 12, Obligations of importers for detailed importer contact information with name that must be placed on the product or packaging or in the documentation for smaller devices. 

Important dates to remember?

These changes will impact your product certifications within this and next year and therefore already today must be considered in your equipment design and marketing approach.