Testing Lab of Power Supply/ IT / AV Products

CE-RED certification under the Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU) is mandatory for all wireless devices sold in the European Union. This compliance guide covers the RED directive scope, essential requirements, testing procedures, and documentation needed for market access.

RED Directive Scope and Product Classification

The Radio Equipment Directive (RED, 2014/53/EU) replaced the R&TTE Directive in 2017 and applies to all electrical and electronic products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for communication or determination of position. Common wireless devices under RED include:

• Bluetooth devices (headsets, speakers, wearables)

• Wi-Fi enabled products (routers, IoT devices, smart home)

• Zigbee/Z-Wave/LoRa smart sensors and controllers

• 2G/3G/4G/5G mobile devices and modules

• GPS/GNSS receivers and transmitters

RED classifies equipment into three categories based on risk level, determining the conformity assessment procedure:

Article 17(1):Low-risk devices — Self-declaration (internal production control)

Article 17(2):Medium-risk devices — Internal production control plus specific apparatus tests (most Bluetooth/Wi-Fi products fall here)

Article 17(3):High-risk devices — Full quality assurance (EU type examination + quality system)

Essential Requirements Under RED

RED Article 3 defines three categories of essential requirements that all radio equipment must satisfy:

Article 3.1(a) — Health and Safety:Protection of users and others from health and safety hazards (aligned with LVD safety principles, though RED covers all voltage ranges)

Article 3.1(b) — EMC:Electromagnetic compatibility — neither causes excessive electromagnetic disturbance nor is unduly affected by it

Article 3.2 — Effective Use of Spectrum:Radio equipment must effectively use and support the efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference

Since 2024, EN 18031 (cybersecurity for consumer IoT) adds a new requirement under Article 3.3(f) for network-connected wireless devices, mandating baseline cybersecurity measures.

Harmonized Standards and Test Requirements

Compliance with RED is demonstrated by testing against harmonized standards published in the Official Journal of the EU. Key standards for wireless devices include:

RF Testing (Article 3.2)

• ETSI EN 300 328 — Wideband transmission systems (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 2.4GHz)

• ETSI EN 300 220 — Short range devices (Sub-GHz)

• ETSI EN 301 893 — 5GHz RLAN

• ETSI EN 303 417 — Bluetooth 5.x LE

EMC Testing (Article 3.1b)

• ETSI EN 301 489-1 — General EMC requirements for radio equipment

• ETSI EN 301 489-17 (for broadband data transmission)

Health and Safety (Article 3.1a)

• EN 60950-1 / EN 62368-1 — Safety of IT/AV equipment

• EN 50663 — Generic standard for low power equipment (≤600W, no LVD application needed)

Technical Documentation and Declaration of Conformity

Manufacturers must prepare and retain a technical documentation file containing:

• General description of the product and its intended use

• Conceptual design, manufacturing drawings, and circuit diagrams

• List of harmonized standards applied in full or in part

• Test reports from accredited laboratories

• Risk assessment and analysis

• EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

The documentation must be kept for 10 years after the product is placed on the market and made available to market surveillance authorities upon request. Working with experienced compliance partners such as ANCI can help ensure complete and well-organized documentation packages.

CE Marking and Labeling Requirements

After successfully completing the conformity assessment, manufacturers must:

• Affix the CE mark on the product, packaging, and user documentation

• Include the Notified Body number (if applicable under Article 17.3)

• Provide product identification (type, batch, serial number)

• Include manufacturer name and address

• Provide instructions and safety information in the language(s) of the target market

This article is AI-assisted and for reference only. It does not constitute any certification commitment or legal advice. Please refer to the latest official regulations.

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