[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Radio Equipment Directive (RED) EUDirective guide # Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU The Radio Equipment Directive governs any product that intentionally transmits radio waves — which means almost every connected device sold in the EU. Understanding its three essential requirements and the harmonised standards that satisfy them is the foundation of a defensible CE file for radio products. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fred-directive-compliance) At a glance Essential requirements 4 Key standards 8 Process steps 6 ## What does RED cover? The Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU applies to any equipment that intentionally emits or receives radio waves for the purpose of radio communication or radio determination. It replaced the R&TTE Directive in June 2017. If your product has a Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth module, cellular radio, LoRa transceiver, or any other intentional radio transmitter — RED applies. The scope is deliberately broad, and the directive does not care whether the radio is the primary function or a background connectivity feature. Products within RED scope are **not** covered by the EMC Directive — RED's Article 3.1(b) covers EMC requirements directly. You may still need LVD if the product is mains-powered, and you always need RoHS if it contains electrical components. Products in scope (examples) * Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) modules and products * Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy devices * Cellular products (2G/3G/4G/5G) * Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and other sub-GHz mesh radio products * LoRa and LoRaWAN end nodes and gateways * NFC and RFID readers and tags (active transmitters) * GPS/GNSS receivers (passive receive-only devices may still fall in scope) * Remote controls, wireless keyboards, and mice * DECT cordless phones and baby monitors ## The three essential requirements Art. 3.1(a) ### Health and safety Products must be constructed so as not to impair the health or safety of persons. In practice this means meeting the LVD essential safety requirements — electrical safety, thermal performance, and for products worn near the body, SAR (specific absorption rate) limits. Art. 3.1(b) ### Electromagnetic compatibility Radio equipment must not cause harmful interference to other equipment, and must not be degraded by other equipment. This mirrors the EMC Directive requirements and is typically demonstrated through ETSI EN 301 489 series testing. Art. 3.2 ### Effective use of spectrum Products must use the radio spectrum efficiently and support its effective use to avoid harmful interference. Demonstrated through radio performance tests — typically spurious emissions, in-band power, occupied bandwidth, and modulation quality. Art. 3.3 ### Delegated acts requirements Additional requirements introduced by delegated regulations: cybersecurity for internet-connected devices (Art. 3.3(d)(e)(f)), child protection for products targeting minors, and interoperability for certain categories. These apply from August 2025. ## Key harmonised standards Applying harmonised standards listed in the Official Journal gives presumption of conformity for the corresponding essential requirements. Always verify the current OJ citation status before finalising your test plan — standards can be withdrawn or restricted with limited notice. ETSI EN 300 328 Wideband data transmission — 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee) ETSI EN 301 893 5 GHz RLAN (Wi-Fi 5/6) ETSI EN 303 687 Wi-Fi 6 GHz band ETSI EN 301 489-1 EMC for radio equipment — common technical requirements ETSI EN 301 489-17 EMC for broadband data transmission equipment (Wi-Fi, BT) ETSI EN 301 489-3 EMC for short-range devices ETSI EN 62368-1 Audio/video and IT equipment — safety (LVD via RED Art. 3.1(a)) ETSI EN 303 645 Cybersecurity for consumer IoT (Art. 3.3(d) compliance from Aug 2025) ## How to achieve RED compliance 01 Confirm RED applies Check that your product intentionally transmits radio waves. Products that only receive (like passive GPS modules integrated into a larger device) may sit outside RED scope — though they often still need EMC Directive coverage. 02 Identify the radio bands and technologies List every intentional transmitter in your product. A typical IoT device might have Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, and a cellular modem — each requiring its own standard selection and test plan. 03 Select harmonised standards Match each radio technology to the current harmonised standards listed in the Official Journal. Standards get amended and their OJ citations withdrawn — verify the current status before committing to a test plan. 04 Commission accredited testing RED requires testing by an accredited laboratory. Unlike EMC Directive, RED does not allow manufacturers to self-test without accreditation. Book testing with an ILAC MRA-accredited lab and confirm the test scope before sending hardware. 05 Compile the technical file The RED technical file includes: product description, circuit diagrams with RF section called out, list of harmonised standards applied, all test reports, risk assessment, EU DoC, and user instructions with frequency band and power information. 06 Sign the EU DoC and affix CE The Declaration of Conformity must specifically reference Directive 2014/53/EU and list all harmonised standards applied. If a Notified Body was involved, their four-digit number follows the CE mark. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the RED replace the EMC Directive for radio products? Yes, for products that fall within RED scope, the EMC Directive no longer applies. RED Article 3.1(b) covers the same EMC essential requirements. Products that have radio but are only receivers (if any exist in scope) may still need the EMC Directive separately — check with your lab. ### Do I need a Notified Body for RED? In most cases, no — Module A (internal production control) is available when harmonised standards fully cover the essential requirements. A Notified Body is required when no harmonised standard exists for your specific radio technology or when you use Module B+C. ### What is the RED delegated act cybersecurity requirement? Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 extended RED Article 3.3 requirements to internet-connected radio equipment, meaning most Wi-Fi and cellular IoT products must meet cybersecurity baseline requirements (ETSI EN 303 645 or equivalent) from August 2025. ### Can I use a module manufacturer's RED certification? Sometimes. If you use a pre-certified radio module and meet the module's integration conditions — including antenna type, separation distances, and host enclosure RF transparency — you may be able to rely on the module RED certificate. But if your product modifies the RF design, you need new testing. ### What information must appear in the user manual under RED? RED requires user instructions to state the radio frequency bands used and the maximum radio-frequency power transmitted in each band. For multi-radio products, list each technology separately. This information must also appear on the packaging or product label where practicable. **Disclaimer:** This page is an educational resource. It is not legal or engineering advice. Always verify current directive text, OJ standard citations, and delegated regulation status before placing any product on the EU market. 🇪🇺 CE Marking roadmap for radio equipment Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap Related guides * [CE certification for IoT devicesComplete CE compliance guide for IoT devices: RED, EMC, RoHS, GPSR, and cybersecurity requirements for connected products enter…](/guides/ce-certification-for-iot-devices) * [EMC Directive complianceComplete guide to EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) compliance: emissions, immunity, testing requirements, and harmonised standards fo…](/guides/emc-directive-compliance) * [CE marking for consumer electronicsComplete guide to CE marking for consumer electronics: applicable directives, testing requirements, cost breakdown, and realist…](/guides/ce-marking-for-consumer-electronics) * [CE marking for network equipmentCE marking guide for network equipment including Wi-Fi routers, managed switches, and wireless access points: RED compliance, c…](/guides/ce-marking-for-network-equipment) * [Self-certification vs Notified BodyComplete guide to CE conformity assessment: when you can self-certify under Module A, when you need a Notified Body, and the co…](/guides/self-certification-vs-notified-body) * [EN 300 328 Test Standard Deep DiveA deep dive into ETSI EN 300 328 V2.2.2, the harmonised standard for 2.4 GHz wideband radio under RED: e.i.r.p. and power density limits, duty cycle and medium utilisation, adaptivity (AFA) requirements, and the test methodology labs actually run.](/guides/en-300-328-test-standard-deep-dive)