Redefining Radio Equipment & Spectrum Efficiency

R&TTE Directive Updates From NIST in Dublin

With a productive meeting this past May in Dublin, the EU Commission’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee drafted several proposed changes to the Radio Equipment Directive proposal (dated 10/27/2012).  

Please look below for some quick background on the report and a summary of the key drafted changes.

4 things you need to know about R&TTE before considering the proposed changes:

1)     This report urges the revision of Directive 1999/5/EC on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity1 (R&TTE Directive) and is closely related to the implementation of the New Legislative Framework (NLF) adopted in 2008 as "the goods package".

2)     The R&TTE Directive establishes a framework for the putting on the market, free movement and putting into service in the EU of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment.

3)    The Directive includes essential requirements for:
       a)      The protection of health and safety
       b)      The protection of electromagnetic compatibility
       c)      The avoidance of harmful interference

4)    The recent unprecedented growth in mobile devices

       and wireless applications... 
       a)      Creates risks of interference between the various 

                products
       b)      Necessitates efficient use of the radio spectrum is 

                 essential

 (Referencing the Doc: PE510.528v01-00)

The main objectives to the draft proposal are: 

• To improve the level of compliance with the requirements in the Directive, and to increase the confidence of all stakeholders in the regulatory framework;

• To clarify and simplify the Directive, including some limited adaptations of scope, so as to facilitate its application and eliminate unnecessary burden for economic operators and public authorities.

Some important changes - from our NIST representative (R. Saar):
1)   Revised definition of “Radio Equipment” (and the Scope of the Directive):

‘radio equipment’ means a product which intentionally emits or receives radio waves for communication, or a product which must be completed with an accessory, such as antenna, so as to emit or receive radio waves for communication
 
Specifically, (1) receivers have been added back in to the Scope, and (2) equipment that does not communicate has been taken out of the Scope.

2)   Deletion of text related to the proposed equipment registration system.

For further details on the review of the R&TTE Directive, please contact Dan Crowder (decrowder@elitetest.com) and consult the following link:
  http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/rtte/documents/legislation/review/index_en.htm