Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive

All electric devices or installations influence each other when interconnected or close to each other, e.g. interference between TV sets, GSM handsets, radios and nearby washing machine or electrical power lines. The purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all those side effects under reasonable control. EMC designates all the existing and future techniques and technologies for reducing disturbance and enhancing immunity.

The electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU ensures that electrical and electronic equipment does not generate, or is not affected by, electromagnetic disturbance.
​

The Directive


The EMC Directive limits electromagnetic emissions from equipment in order to ensure that, when used as intended, such equipment does not disturb radio and telecommunication, as well as other equipment.

The directive also governs the immunity of such equipment to interference and seeks to ensure that this equipment is not disturbed by radio emissions, when used as intended.

​
The main objectives of the directives are to regulate the compatibility of equipment regarding EMC:
  • equipment (apparatus and fixed installations) needs to comply with EMC requirements when it is placed on the market and/or taken into service
  • the application of good engineering practice is required for fixed installations, with the possibility that competent authorities of EU countries may impose measures in instances of non-compliance.
Picture
Click to read
Legislation
The (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EUSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• was published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 96/79, 29 March 2014, and repealed Directive 2004/108/EC as from 20 April 2016.
This directive is aligned to the new legislative frameworkSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• policy and will keep the same scope as Directive 2004/108/EC.
Guidance
​Guides

The objective of the guide is to assist with the common application of the Directive 2014/30/EU. The guide has no weight in law, but deals with a number of practical issues that are of interest to manufacturers and other stakeholders.
Issues with respect to implementation are regularly considered.

ADCO documents and recommendations

The administrative co-operation (EMC ADCO) is an independent working group run and chaired by the EU countries.

The group is a forum for cooperation and exchange of information between national market surveillance authorities.
EMC ADCO information sheet for economic operators 
Example of EU declaration of conformity (DoC) adopted by EMC ADCO
European language requirements for products covered by EMCD 2014/30/EU (2.0)

Results of the latest Market Surveillance campaigns of ADCO - market surveillance reports:
For more reports, please see the ADCO page.

Working party documents

The working party (EMC WP) deals with general policy issues related to the management and implementation of the directive. It is chaired by the Commission and involves EU national authorities, standardisers, notified bodies, Industry and other interested parties. EMC WP documents are not legally binding. They aim at clarifying certain provisions or elements of the directive.

Documents adopted or endorsed by EMC WP:
Standardisation
​European harmonised standards are developed by the European standardisation organisations (ESOs) following a mandate issued by the European Commission. The EMC directive also requires publication in the OJEU of the references to these standards in order for them to be harmonised and so provide for a presumption of conformity.
​Mandates
​
M/552 - general mandate for harmonised standards under EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
Notified Bodies
​Notified bodies are conformity assessment bodies notified by the competent Member States authorities to carry out the relevant conformity assessment procedures on products to be placed on the EU market, according to the applicable EU legislation. See the lists on the NANDO website.


EU conformity assessment bodies designated under all mutual recognition agreements (MRAs)

The conformity assessment body (CAB) is designated to carry out the relevant tasks defined in the legislation of the third country the European Union has signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA)Search for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• with Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States of America.
Workshop
Workshop on coexistence challenges of the evolution in the use of the UHF band (Brussels, 12 December 2014)
3rd Workshop on receivers affected by new radio services LTE in the 800 MHz band (October 2012)
2nd Workshop on cable TV receivers affected by new radio services in the 800 MHz band (June 2010)
Deliverables from the joint working group ETSI/CENELEC on the digital dividend (August 2010)
Contact Points
​EU countries have the primary responsibility to implement the EMC directive. Manufacturers have to give notice of their intention to place certain types of equipment on the market, and market surveillance authorities communicate with manufacturers when they suspect that products do not comply with the Directive.


​Contact