Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

The Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU) regulates all electrical and electronic equipment that intentionally emits or receives radio waves. For North American machinery manufacturers, this is critical because if your industrial equipment includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, or cellular telemetry, it generally falls under RED rather than the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) or the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC).

Crucially, RED legally replaces the LVD and EMC Directives for the radio-enabled product, though it incorporates their essential safety and immunity requirements. You cannot simply rely on Pre-Certified Components; you must verify that the radio module interacts safely with the rest of the machine. This often necessitates specific integration testing.

Furthermore, new requirements emerging under RED and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) enforce stricter cybersecurity protocols for internet-connected radio equipment. Your Technical File must now demonstrate that the device protects the network and user privacy, adding a new layer to the conformity assessment process.