CE Requirements – Overview
Radio equipment may only be placed on the market in the European Economic Area (EEA) if it complies with the applicable EU harmonisation legislation and bears the CE marking.
For radio equipment, several EU legal acts may apply simultaneously. The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) is the primary legal framework and incorporates the relevant safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) and the essential requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD). Other product-specific EU legislation may apply in parallel, depending on the product.
Key Takeaways
The CE marking applies to products that fall under EU harmonisation legislation, regardless of whether they are manufactured within or outside the European Union.
Manufacturers are responsible for carrying out the conformity assessment, preparing the technical documentation, and issuing the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
Implementation Support
IB-Lenhardt AG supports manufacturers with CE compliance for radio equipment, including test coordination, technical documentation, support with the conformity assessment process, and preparation of the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC).
Regulatory Framework
Main EU Directives Relevant to Radio Equipment
The applicable EU directive depends on the product type, technical design, and whether the product includes radio functionality.
| Directive | Scope |
|---|---|
| RED | Radio equipment and devices with radio functionality |
| EMCD | Electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic equipment |
| LVD | Electrical equipment within defined voltage limits |
| Directive | Scope |
|---|---|
| Radio Equipment Directive (RED) | Radio equipment and devices with radio functionality |
| Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD) | Electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic equipment |
| Low Voltage Directive (LVD) | Electrical equipment within defined voltage limits |
Other Relevant EU Legislation
Other EU legislation may apply depending on the product type, including requirements relating to substance restrictions, batteries, medical devices, machinery, or ecodesign.
RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) – Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 – Requirements for batteries and products incorporating batteries
Medical Device Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (MDR) – Requirements for medical devices and accessories with an intended medical purpose
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 – Safety requirements for machinery, including machinery incorporating radio equipment; the Regulation applies from 20 January 2027
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) and applicable product-specific ecodesign measures – Ecodesign requirements for covered product groups; existing measures under the former framework may continue to apply during the transition
Typical Combinations of EU Legislation
In practice, multiple EU legal acts may apply simultaneously to a product. The exact combination depends on its technical design, intended use, and the integration of radio functionality.
| Product Example | Typical EU Legislation |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router | RED + RoHS |
| Washing machine with integrated Wi-Fi | RED + RoHS + applicable ecodesign and energy-labelling legislation |
| Machine with integrated radio equipment | RED + Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (until 19 January 2027) / Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (from 20 January 2027) + RoHS, where applicable |
| Product Example | Typical EU Legislation |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router | RED + RoHS |
| Washing machine with integrated Wi-Fi | RED + RoHS + applicable ecodesign and energy-labelling legislation |
| Machine with integrated radio equipment | RED + Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (until 19 January 2027) / Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (from 20 January 2027) + RoHS, where applicable |
Responsibilities in the CE Conformity Process
Within the CE conformity assessment process, different economic operators have defined regulatory responsibilities. These primarily include manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers, and distributors.
Primary responsibility for product conformity lies with the manufacturer. Other economic operators have specific verification and compliance obligations within the supply chain.
| Economic Operator | Role in the CE Conformity Process |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Carries out the conformity assessment, compiles the technical documentation, issues the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), and affixes the CE marking |
| Authorised Representative | May be mandated by the manufacturer to carry out specific regulatory tasks on the manufacturer's behalf, within the scope of a written mandate |
| Importer | Verifies that the manufacturer has completed the required conformity assessment, that the product bears the required marking, and that the required documentation is available. Provides its identification and contact details as required and takes corrective action in the event of non-conformity |
| Distributor | Acts with due care and verifies that the product bears the required marking, is accompanied by the required documentation, and includes the required manufacturer and importer information before making it available on the market |
| Economic Operator | Role in the CE Conformity Process |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Carries out the conformity assessment, compiles the technical documentation, issues the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC), and affixes the CE marking |
| Authorised Representative | May be mandated by the manufacturer to carry out specific regulatory tasks on the manufacturer's behalf, within the scope of a written mandate |
| Importer | Verifies that the manufacturer has completed the required conformity assessment, that the product bears the required marking, and that the required documentation is available. Provides its identification and contact details as required and takes corrective action in the event of non-conformity |
| Distributor | Acts with due care and verifies that the product bears the required marking, is accompanied by the required documentation, and includes the required manufacturer and importer information before making it available on the market |
The specific obligations of each economic operator are set out in the applicable EU legislation, which is generally aligned with the common framework established by Decision No 768/2008/EC.
Further Information
Detailed requirements for the key EU directives relevant to radio and electronic equipment can be found on the following overview pages:
Official Resources
EU Legislation and Guidance
-
European Commission: Guide to the implementation of EU product rules ("Blue Guide") – 2022
Available at: eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Decision No. 768/2008/EC on a common framework for the marketing of products
Available at: eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Overview of CE marking requirements by the European Commission
Available at: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Additional Resource
-
TAMSys by IB-Lenhardt AG – Type Approval Management System
Central platform for managing international radio approvals, technical documentation, labeling requirements, and regulatory product information throughout the product lifecycle.
Note: All sources were last reviewed in July 2026. For the most up-to-date versions of the legislation and guidance, consult the EUR-Lex database and the official websites of the European Commission.
Author: IBL-Editors Team
Technical Review: Oliver Kneip - Managing Director | KL-Certification GmbH Give feedback on this article