Radio Equipment Directive (RED)
Radio Equipment Directive (RED)
The radio equipment directive 2014/53/EU (RED) establishes a regulatory framework for placing radio equipment on the market. It ensures a single market for radio equipment by setting essential requirements for safety and health, electromagnetic compatibility, and the efficient use of the radio spectrum. It also provides the basis for further regulation governing some additional aspects. These include technical features for the protection of privacy, personal data and against fraud. Furthermore, additional aspects cover interoperability, access to emergency services, and compliance regarding the combination of radio equipment and software.
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The RED aligned the previous directive, the radio and telecommunication terminal equipment directive (1999/5/EC (R&TTED), with the new legislative framework for the marketing of products.
The revision also took account of the need for improved market surveillance. In particular, for the traceability obligations of manufacturers, importers and distributors. It has improved market surveillance instruments. One example is the possibility for required preregistration of radio equipment in categories with low compliance levels.
The RED was published in the OJEU on 22 May 2014, entered into force on 11 June 2014 and is applicable as of 13 June 2016. It included a one-year transitional period, which ended on 12 June 2017 (Article 48). During the transitional phase, manufacturers were allowed to place on the market radio equipment compliant with either the RED or the EU legislation applicable before 13 June 2016 (e.g. R&TTED).
For more details on the application of the RED, see the RED guide under the guidance section below.
Committee (TCAM)
Article 45 of the RED establishes the telecommunication conformity assessment and market surveillance committee (TCAM), a committee related to Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. TCAM gives its opinion on proposed implementing acts under the RED. It also discusses the application of the directive when issues are raised either by its chair or a representative of an EU country.
Delegated and Implementing acts under the RED
On 20 July 2017, the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354 was adopted. This specifies how to present the information provided for in Article 10(10) of Directive 2014/53/EU. The high-resolution pictogram 
for printed product documentation is available for download.
Commission decisions adopted according to the R&TTED remain applicable under the RED as far as they are not incompatible with the RED (for details, see the RED guide).
Guidance
The RED guide aims to help with the common application of the RED. It has no weight in law but deals with practical issues that are of interest to manufacturers and other stakeholders. The guide will be continuously updated, following the discussions and the opinion of the TCAM.
Radio equipment directive FAQ: relates to the transition between the R&TTED and the RED.
See also
- Subclasses: class 1 equipment - valid from 1 January 2018 (January 2018 version)
- Subclasses: class 1 equipment - valid until 31 December 2017 (October 2016 version) - please note that in this document, some references to old Commission decisions or harmonised standards should read as references to the most recent Commission decisions or harmonised standards
- Notification of draft interface regulations
Standardisation
Voluntary harmonised standards in support of the RED have been and are being prepared by CENELEC and ETSI in reply to the standardisation request M/536