RED - Directive 2014/53/EU

What RED is and why it matters

The Radio Equipment Directive (RED) — formally Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment — is the EU law that governs almost any product that transmits or receives radio waves before it can be placed on the European market. If your product has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a cellular modem, a GPS receiver, NFC, a remote control, or any other intentional radio function, RED is very likely the directive that applies to it. It replaced the older R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC) and modernised the framework to fit a market saturated with connected and wireless devices.

RED matters because it bundles together three different concerns that used to be addressed separately: electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and the efficient use of the radio spectrum. For a brand owner, this means that a single piece of wireless equipment must satisfy a combined set of essential requirements, be supported by technical documentation, carry CE marking, and ship with an EU declaration of conformity. RED is also the vehicle through which the EU has added new obligations over time via delegated acts — most visibly the common-charger rule that makes USB-C mandatory for many devices.

📄 Official text: Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment — on EUR-Lex →

Who RED applies to

RED applies across the supply chain rather than to a single actor. The duties scale with your role, but every link is covered:

Manufacturers — anyone who makes radio equipment, or who has it made and markets it under their own name or trademark. They carry the heaviest obligations, including the conformity assessment, technical documentation and drawing up the EU declaration of conformity.
Importers — businesses bringing radio equipment from outside the EU into the Union market. They must verify the manufacturer has carried out the right conformity assessment, that documentation exists, and that the product bears CE marking before placing it on the market.
Distributors — wholesalers and retailers further down the chain who must act with due care, check that CE marking, the declaration of conformity and required information are present, and not supply equipment they know or should presume to be non-compliant.
Authorised representatives — where appointed by a manufacturer to carry out defined tasks on their behalf within the EU.

RED covers radio equipment that intentionally emits or receives radio waves for the purpose of radio communication or radiodetermination. It excludes certain categories such as equipment used by radio amateurs that is not commercially available, and some aviation, marine and defence equipment governed by their own regimes.

Key dates and timeline

2014 — Directive 2014/53/EU was adopted, replacing the R&TTE Directive 1999/5/EC.
13 June 2016 — RED applies from this date, with a transition period during which products compliant with the old R&TTE Directive could still be placed on the market.
12 June 2017 — end of the R&TTE transition period; from this point radio equipment had to comply with RED.
28 December 2024 — the common-charger requirements under the RED delegated act apply: many categories of portable devices that charge via wired charging must accept charging through a USB-C port. (For laptops, the same requirement applies from 28 April 2026.)

Core requirements

Essential requirements

RED sets out three groups of essential requirements that radio equipment must meet:

Health and safety — the protection of health and the safety of persons and of domestic animals and property, including the safety objectives in the Low Voltage Directive (but without the lower voltage limit applying). This overlaps with what LVD covers for ordinary electrical products.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) — an adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility, mirroring the EMC Directive, so the equipment neither causes nor is unduly affected by electromagnetic disturbance.
Efficient use of the radio spectrum — the equipment must effectively use and support the efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference. This is the requirement unique to RED that goes beyond LVD and EMC.

RED also allows additional essential requirements to be activated by the Commission for specified categories — covering, for example, interoperability, access to emergency services, protection of personal data and privacy, protection against fraud, and the common charger.

Harmonised standards

As with other CE directives, manufacturers can demonstrate conformity with the essential requirements by applying harmonised standards whose references are published in the Official Journal of the EU. Building to these standards gives a presumption of conformity, which is the most common and practical route. Where no harmonised standard is applied, or only applied in part, the manufacturer must involve a notified body for the radio-spectrum aspects, making the harmonised-standards route both simpler and cheaper for most products.

Technical documentation and conformity assessment

Manufacturers must carry out a conformity assessment and compile technical documentation that demonstrates the equipment meets the essential requirements. The documentation describes the design and manufacture of the equipment, the standards applied, risk analyses, and test results. It must be kept available for market surveillance authorities for ten years after the equipment is placed on the market and produced on request. Depending on whether harmonised standards have been fully applied, the manufacturer either self-assesses (internal production control) or involves a notified body.

EU declaration of conformity and CE marking

Before placing radio equipment on the market, the manufacturer must draw up an EU declaration of conformity stating that the essential requirements are met, and affix the CE marking. The declaration must accompany the equipment (a simplified version with a web address to the full text is permitted), and CE marking must be applied visibly, legibly and indelibly. Equipment must also bear a type, batch or serial number for identification and carry the manufacturer’s and importer’s name and contact address.

Information, instructions and registration

Radio equipment must be accompanied by instructions and safety information in a language easily understood by consumers in the Member State concerned. Where applicable, the manufacturer must include information about the frequency bands used and the maximum radio-frequency power transmitted. Where radio equipment is subject to restrictions on putting into service or use, the packaging must carry the relevant information. Certain categories of radio equipment may also be subject to registration in a central system before being placed on the market.

The common charger (USB-C)

A high-profile addition to RED is the common-charger rule. Through a delegated act, the EU requires that a wide range of portable devices — including mobile phones, tablets, headphones, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, handheld game consoles, digital cameras and more — that are rechargeable via a wired cable must be equipped with a USB-C charging port. The rule has applied since 28 December 2024 for most covered devices (with laptops following from 28 April 2026). It also harmonises fast-charging behaviour and lets consumers buy a device with or without a charger. For brands, this means hardware design and packaging decisions now have a direct compliance dimension under RED.

Obligations by role

Manufacturers — run the conformity assessment, hold technical documentation, draw up the EU declaration of conformity, affix CE marking, ensure traceability and provide instructions and frequency/power information.
Importers — verify the manufacturer’s conformity assessment and documentation, check CE marking and the declaration, add their own identification and cooperate with authorities.
Distributors — check CE marking, the declaration of conformity and required information are present, handle equipment with due care, and stop supply of equipment they believe to be non-compliant.
Authorised representatives — perform the tasks set out in their mandate and keep documentation available to authorities.

Enforcement

Each Member State designates market surveillance authorities to enforce RED. In Denmark, the Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen) is the competent authority for radio equipment and the radio spectrum, working alongside the Danish Safety Technology Authority (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen) for the safety and EMC aspects that overlap with other directives.

Authorities can require corrective action, restrict or prohibit the making available of non-compliant equipment, order withdrawals and recalls, and act against equipment that causes harmful interference. Non-compliant or unsafe products can be shared EU-wide through the Safety Gate rapid alert system. Consequences for non-compliance are set at national level and can include orders to stop sales, mandatory recalls, fines and reputational damage. Because radio equipment touches safety, EMC and spectrum at once, a single gap can trigger enforcement on multiple fronts.

Getting compliant

Confirm your product is radio equipment under RED and identify any additional essential requirements that apply to its category.
Identify and apply the relevant harmonised standards to gain presumption of conformity, or engage a notified body where standards are not fully applied.
Carry out the conformity assessment and compile technical documentation, retaining it for ten years.
Draw up the EU declaration of conformity and affix CE marking.
Apply traceability markings (type/batch/serial, manufacturer and importer details).
Provide instructions, safety information and, where relevant, frequency-band and RF-power information in the right languages.
Confirm whether your device falls under the common-charger rule and ensure it has a USB-C port and compliant packaging.
Check whether your category requires registration before being placed on the market.

How Conphora helps

Conphora monitors RED and maps your radio equipment against its requirements, flagging gaps in conformity assessment, technical documentation, the declaration of conformity, CE marking and the common-charger rule before they become enforcement problems. The platform helps you generate and keep the right documentation, and alerts you when obligations change — including new delegated acts — so your compliance stays current.

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Sources and further reading

This guide is for general information and is not legal advice.

Last updated: 12 June 2026