Practitioners in the EU wireless product market have most likely heard of the term “RED notification”, but many people become more confused the more they learn about it: some say you need to find a third-party institution to issue a certificate, some say you need to register on a government website, and others say the old process has become invalid. In fact, most of these confusions come from the overly broad use of the term “notification” – under the RED framework, there is not a single process, but two independent compliance matters. Some promotions easily blur the boundary between the two, which may cause enterprises to take unnecessary detours. This article will sort out the boundaries, judgment methods, practical operation steps and common risk points of the two types of RED-related compliance processes, to provide a clear reference for compliance judgment of EU wireless product access.
Core Introductory Cognition: Boundaries Between RED and the Two Types of “Notification”
First, clarify the basic concepts to avoid subsequent confusion.
What is the RED Directive
The full name of RED is the EU Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU), which is the access rule for all products with wireless transceiver functions to enter the EU market. It focuses on four types of requirements: first, health and safety, including electrical safety and electromagnetic field exposure limits, that is, products must not have electric shock risks, and radiation must not endanger human health; second, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), that is, products must not interfere with the normal operation of other electrical appliances, and can also resist electromagnetic interference from other electrical appliances; third, effective use of the spectrum, the radio frequency bands used by products must not interfere with legal radio services; fourth, additional requirements of delegated regulations, for example, some devices with network functions also need to comply with additional provisions on privacy and cybersecurity.
The basic compliance logic of RED is: if a product is designed and manufactured in full compliance with the “harmonized standards” officially recognized by the EU, and the standards fully cover the corresponding RED essential requirements, it can obtain a presumption of conformity; however, it is still necessary to prove that the product actually meets the requirements through materials such as technical documentation, test reports, and risk assessments. After completing the proof, the manufacturer can sign the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and put the product on the market. Not all products require the participation of a third-party institution in the assessment.
Its scope of coverage is also clear: all consumer and industrial products that intentionally transmit or receive radio waves are within its jurisdiction, such as Bluetooth headsets, smart watches, WiFi routers, wireless door locks, toys with remote controls, etc. Note that “intentionally” here means that the product has active wireless transceiver functions – equipment that accidentally generates electromagnetic radiation during operation does not count, and purely wired equipment is even less within the scope.
Clear Distinction Between the Two Types of “RED Notification”
This is the most easily confused point, which needs to be clarified first: there is no unified process called “notification” in RED. The “notification” commonly referred to in the industry is actually two completely independent matters:
The first type is Notified Body (NB) conformity assessment: a third-party institution officially recognized by the EU participates in compliance assessment and issues NB-related certificates. This process is not mandatory for all products;
The second type is RED Article 5 product registration/enrollment: submit product compliance information to the EU competent authority for registration, which is only for specific categories of products listed in EU delegated regulations, and is even less a general requirement.
The only connection between the two is: the prerequisite for Article 5 registration/enrollment is that the product has completed compliance assessment – whether self-declaration or NB assessment is acceptable – but the two processes themselves are independent of each other. There is no relationship of “if you do one, you don’t need to do the other” or “they must be handled together”.
In addition, a special reminder: the “general national notification” under the old R&TTE Directive has long been invalid. Under the current RED framework, there is no national notification that all wireless products need to handle, so there is no need to incur unnecessary expenses according to the old rules.
Explain Several High-Frequency Terms First
Several core terms will be mentioned repeatedly later. When they first appear, they will be explained clearly in plain language to avoid confusion when seeing the terminology:
- Notified Body (NB): A third-party institution officially designated by EU member states with compliance assessment qualifications. Each formal NB has a unique 4-digit number, and not any testing company can be called an NB.
- Declaration of Conformity (DoC): A legal document signed by the manufacturer to prove that the product meets all applicable RED requirements. After signing, the manufacturer shall bear full responsibility for the product’s compliance, and it is not a formal document issued arbitrarily.
- European Authorised Representative (Ou Dai): A legal entity within the EU that can be entrusted by overseas manufacturers to handle EU compliance-related regulatory liaison matters. The specific authority is determined by the written authorization of both parties.
- Harmonized standards: Technical specifications officially recognized by the EU, equivalent to the “standard answer” for compliance reference. Products designed and manufactured in accordance with the standards and meeting the requirements can obtain a presumption of conformity for the corresponding RED requirements.
Quick Judgment: Which Process Your Product Needs to Follow
You can first complete a preliminary judgment through three steps, without consulting a third party at the beginning.
Step 1: First Confirm Whether the Product Is Under RED’s Jurisdiction
There is only one core judgment criterion: whether the product has intentional wireless transceiver functions – for example, products with Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular network, NFC, GPS, or wireless remote control functions are all within the scope of jurisdiction. Purely wired equipment and products without any wireless transceiver functions are not under RED’s jurisdiction.
Of course, there are also clearly excluded categories. The following types of products do not need to follow the RED process: military and national security-related equipment (subject to special regulations), aviation/maritime/railway special equipment (subject to their own access rules), self-made non-commercial equipment by amateur radio enthusiasts, and prototype samples in the R&D stage that are not for sale to the public.
Step 2: Judge Whether NB (Notified Body) Conformity Assessment Is Required
First, the basic conclusion: most ordinary consumer-grade wireless products do not need to go through the NB assessment process.
Conditions for not requiring NB assessment: The product fully complies with all applicable harmonized standards, and the standards cover all applicable RED requirements. In this case, the “self-declaration” path can be taken: prepare technical documents and sign the DoC on your own, without paying NB assessment fees.
Situations requiring NB assessment: If the product does not use harmonized standards, the harmonized standards do not cover all RED requirements, there are additional requirements from delegated regulations, or the enterprise actively chooses the NB assessment path, the NB assessment process can be followed.
In addition, there are several situations where the compliance path needs to be re-evaluated: adding new wireless functions to the product, adjusting the used frequency band or transmit power, updating the corresponding harmonized standards, adding new additional requirements from the EU, etc., all require re-judgment of whether NB participation is needed.
Step 3: Judge Whether RED Article 5 Product Registration Is Required
This is the most misunderstood point: it is absolutely not the case that all wireless products need to complete Article 5 registration.
RED Article 5 registration is a registration requirement uniformly set at the EU level, only for specific categories of radio equipment. The applicable categories and implementation rules must be clearly defined by the EU through delegated regulations, and not all products with wireless functions are within the registration scope. At present, most conventional consumer wireless products (such as ordinary Bluetooth headsets and home WiFi routers) have not yet been included in the EU’s unified registration requirements.
Some member states may have additional local requirements for spectrum use licenses, equipment registration, or pre-sales notification. These do not fall under the unified registration category of RED Article 5, but they may also be requirements that need to be met before the product is launched, and the two cannot be confused.
Self-inspection can be divided into two levels: first, check the latest RED Article 5 delegated regulations and applicable category list issued by the EU to confirm whether the product is within the scope of unified registration required at the EU level; second, check the public requirements of the spectrum competent authority of the target sales member state to confirm whether there are additional local spectrum regulatory requirements. If the product is only sold outside the EU, belongs to the RED excluded categories, or is not included in any official registration/license list, there is no need to handle RED Article 5 registration.
Take Common Products as Examples
The following judgments are all based on the premise of the product’s actual configuration, the effective citation status of applicable harmonized standards in the Official Journal of the European Union, and that compliance tests fully cover all applicable requirements. Specific conclusions shall be subject to the latest official rules:
- Ordinary Bluetooth headsets: When the version of the Bluetooth harmonized standard used is within the effective citation range of the Official Journal of the European Union, and the test report fully covers health and safety, electromagnetic compatibility, spectrum use, and all applicable additional requirements of delegated regulations, the self-declaration path can be taken, and NB assessment is not required; currently, they are not included in the EU RED Article 5 registration list, so there is no need to handle this registration.
- Home WiFi routers: Similar to Bluetooth headsets, when the version of the WiFi harmonized standard used is valid and the tests cover all applicable requirements, NB assessment is not required, and there is no need to handle RED Article 5 registration.
- Smart watches with cellular network: If some wireless functions or additional requirements (such as cybersecurity, privacy protection) are not fully covered by existing harmonized standards, NB assessment will be triggered; whether registration is required shall be subject to the EU RED Article 5 delegated regulation list or local special rules of the target member state, and it is not inherently mandatory for cellular products.
- Wired over-ear headphones: No intentional wireless transceiver function, not under RED’s jurisdiction, no need to handle any RED-related processes.
Division of Compliance Responsibilities for Each Party
The responsible entities need to be clarified to avoid unclear rights and responsibilities:
- First responsible party: The manufacturer (whether inside or outside the EU) always bears primary responsibility for the final compliance of the product, is responsible for preparing complete technical documentation, signing the DoC, and ensuring that the product meets all applicable RED requirements.
- Requirements for overseas manufacturers: When handling NB assessment or RED Article 5 registration, it is usually necessary to entrust a qualified responsible entity within the EU (such as a European Authorised Representative) to submit the application and issue a written authorization document; the specific eligibility of the entity that can submit the application shall be subject to the requirements of the corresponding NB and the rules of the official registration system.
- Importers and distributors: They need to verify the authenticity and availability of compliance materials such as the product’s DoC, CE mark, and information of the responsible person within the EU. They shall not sell products that they know are non-compliant, but they do not replace the manufacturer in bearing the final compliance responsibility.
Full Process of NB (Notified Body) Conformity Assessment
If your product确实 needs to go through the NB assessment process, you can proceed according to the following steps.
Core Materials to Prepare Before Assessment
Prepare all materials first to avoid delays caused by repeated supplementary submissions:
The first type is product boundary information: specific model, hardware and software versions, core wireless parameters (standard, frequency band, transmit power, antenna specifications). If it is a product of the same series, the differences between different models need to be clarified to facilitate the NB in determining the assessment scope.
The second type is compliance technical documentation: product manual, completed test reports, list of applicable harmonized standards, risk assessment documents.
The third type is application description: clearly inform the NB which RED requirements already have supporting materials, which require NB assessment, and whether it is a full assessment or only to fill compliance gaps, to avoid understanding deviations between both parties.
How to Choose a Qualified NB
This step is most prone to problems. Remember: the EU NANDO database is the only authoritative channel for NB inquiries. Do not only rely on the promotional qualifications on the institution’s official website. Those that cannot be found in the database do not have formal NB qualifications.
When inquiring, three core points need to be confirmed: the institution is indeed in the NANDO list; its notification scope covers the RED Directive; and it has assessment qualifications for the corresponding product category and corresponding wireless technology – for example, for cellular products, an NB that only has Bluetooth assessment qualifications cannot undertake the work.
Special reminder: Ordinary testing qualifications are not equal to NB notification qualifications. Some testing institutions claim to be able to handle RED-related business, but actually have no NB assessment qualifications, and the documents they issue may not be recognized by EU regulators. Careful screening is required when choosing.
How to Choose Among the Three Assessment Paths
There are three common paths for conformity assessment under RED, corresponding to Annex II, III, and IV respectively, with different applicable scenarios. We have organized them into a table for easy comparison:
| Assessment Path (Corresponding RED Annex) | Applicable Scenario | Degree of NB Participation | Core Output Documents | Whether NB Number Needs to Be Added to CE Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annex II Internal Production Control | The product fully complies with all applicable harmonized standards, with no uncovered RED requirements | None, the enterprise is responsible on its own | DoC signed by the enterprise | No |
| Annex III EU Type Examination | Not fully covered by harmonized standards / has additional requirements from delegated regulations / enterprise actively chooses | Only assesses the product design type; mass production consistency is the responsibility of the enterprise | EU Type Examination Certificate | Not required when only using the type examination module; if paired with a production control module with NB participation, it needs to be marked according to the rules |
| Annex IV Full Quality Assurance | Large-volume, multi-model products, enterprise has mature design + production quality system | Assesses product design + full-process quality system | System assessment certificate + type approval document | Yes |
Although Annex II does not require NB participation, it is one of the compliance modes explicitly stipulated by RED, and is on an equal footing with the other two paths involving NB, all being legal conformity assessment methods.
Regarding the rules for the NB number next to the CE mark, the core judgment criterion is whether the NB participates in the quality control of the production link: if only Annex III type examination is conducted (only assessing design samples, not involving mass production link control), there is no need to mark the NB number next to the CE mark; if Annex III is paired with a production control module with NB participation, or Annex IV full-process quality assurance (covering all design and production links) is adopted, the 4-digit number of the corresponding NB must be marked. The final rules for affixing the CE mark need to be confirmed in combination with the actually adopted combination of conformity assessment modules and the links in which the NB actually participates.
The selection logic is also very clear: first look at the coverage of harmonized standards. If Annex II can be used, there is no need to find an NB, and the cost is lower; if the standards cannot cover it, and the product output is small and there are few models, Annex III is sufficient; if it is a large-volume, multi-model product line, and the enterprise itself has a mature quality system, Annex IV is more efficient. If you are unsure, you can first ask the NB to do a “compliance gap assessment” to clarify the missing items before choosing the corresponding path.
Key Steps of Formal Assessment
After selecting the NB and path, the formal process is mainly divided into five steps:
The first step is to submit the application. Be sure to confirm the assessment scope (full items or gap filling), assessment path, cost and cycle in writing to avoid disputes caused by oral agreements.
The second step is document review. The NB will check the consistency of technical documents, test reports, and product configurations, as well as whether they comply with corresponding standards and RED requirements.
The third step is supplementation and rectification. If tests are missing, make up the tests; if materials are missing, supplement them. All non-conformities must be closed before entering the next link.
The fourth step is to obtain the certificate. The NB will issue corresponding assessment documents according to the selected path. For example, Annex III issues a type examination certificate, and Annex IV issues a system certificate plus type approval document.
The last step is the compliance closed loop: after obtaining the NB assessment documents, the manufacturer still needs to sign the DoC on its own, and then affix the CE mark according to the rules – if it is a path with NB participation and requires a number to be affixed, the 4-digit number of the corresponding NB must be marked next to the CE mark.
Practical Operation Process of RED Article 5 Product Registration/Enrollment
RED Article 5 registration is a unified registration mechanism reserved under the EU regulatory framework for specific radio equipment. It only needs to be handled after the EU clearly lists the applicable categories through delegated regulations and the corresponding official handling system is officially launched; products not included in the scope of effective delegated regulations do not need to fulfill this obligation. Some member states may have additional special requirements such as local spectrum use licenses, equipment registration, or pre-sales notifications. Such requirements do not fall under the category of RED Article 5 unified registration, and the rules of the target sales country need to be checked separately.
If the product falls within the scope of the effective RED Article 5 delegated regulations and the official handling system is open, it is usually promoted according to the following rules:
Prerequisites for Registration
Three prerequisites must be met before handling RED Article 5 registration:
First, RED compliance assessment has been completed (either self-declaration or NB assessment is acceptable), and valid DoC and test reports are available;
Second, a qualified responsible entity (such as an authorized representative, importer) has been designated within the EU. The entity must have a real and valid EU address and contact information, and its role must meet the requirements of the corresponding registration channel; if handled by an authorized representative, a formal written power of attorney issued by the manufacturer must be provided; the importer can assume regulatory liaison obligations, but cannot exempt the manufacturer from primary compliance responsibility;
Third, the frequency band used by the product is within the legally authorized scope of the EU, and no prohibited frequency bands are used, which is the basis of compliance.
Registration Materials to Prepare
The materials required for registration are fewer than those for NB assessment, and are mainly divided into three categories:
The first type is basic product information: model, appearance photos, core wireless parameters (frequency band, transmit power, standard);
The second type is compliance certification documents: test reports, DoC. If there is an NB certificate, it can be provided together, which helps to speed up the review progress;
The third type is responsible person materials: information of the responsible entity within the EU (such as authorized representative, importer), power of attorney.
Operation Process of Registration
If the official registration system has been launched for the corresponding category, online submission is usually supported. Some categories can be handled through the EU unified entry, and the rest are submitted through the online system of the competent authority designated by EU delegated regulations, without the need for offline submission.
There is no unified EU standard for the review cycle, and the specific one shall be subject to the official notice of the competent authority; the practical reference cycle for implemented categories is about 2-12 weeks. If there are problems with the materials, you will receive a correction notice, and you can supplement them as required.
If the registration application is approved, the competent authority will issue a corresponding registration number. Series products of the same model and with the same core wireless parameters can share it, and there is no need to apply separately for each model.
The mutual recognition rules depend on the requirements of the delegated regulations for specific categories: for categories that meet the EU unified registration requirements, the registration results are valid within the EU; if they involve local special requirements of member states, they need to be handled separately according to the rules of the corresponding country.
Registration Fees and Number Usage Rules
In terms of fees, there is no unified charging standard in the EU. Some registration channels charge a small fee, while others are free. The specific amount depends on the category and applicable rules.
The rules for using the number are relatively lenient: it is not mandatory to print it on the product, just keep it for future reference. Only some rules require it to be attached to compliance documents.
However, the boundary needs to be clarified: the registration number is only proof of completed registration, and cannot replace the CE mark, NB number or DoC. They belong to different compliance links and cannot replace each other.
Subsequent Compliance Obligations After Notification/Registration Is Completed
Many people think that everything is fine after the assessment or registration is completed, but this is not the case. There are still many compliance obligations afterwards. Failure to fulfill them may lead to the invalidation of previous work, and even face penalties. This part is advanced content, and practitioners with compliance experience can focus on it.
Validity Period and Reassessment Trigger Conditions
First, correct a common misunderstanding: neither NB assessment documents nor RED Article 5 registration has a unified fixed validity period. As long as the product has not changed, and the corresponding regulations and harmonized standards have not been updated to affect conformity, they remain valid, and there is no need to renew fees regularly.
There are three core scenarios that trigger reassessment or re-registration:
First, the RED regulation itself is revised, leading to changes in applicable requirements;
Second, the corresponding harmonized standards are updated – at this time, three key points need to be confirmed first: whether the new version of the standard has been officially cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, whether the old version of the standard is still within the transition period, and whether the content of the standard change involves the core requirements that have been assessed for the product (such as wireless parameters, safety limits, etc.). Only when the change affects the presumption of conformity or core requirements of the product, supplementary assessment and updating of technical documents are required, and if necessary, NB assessment or registration shall be re-handled;
Third, the core wireless parameters of the product change.
If any one of these is met, it is necessary to re-evaluate compliance and go through the corresponding procedures.
Compliance Judgment Logic After Product Changes
Product iteration is a common situation, and not all changes require re-assessment or re-registration. There is only one core judgment criterion: whether the core wireless parameters have changed.
If it is replacing the antenna or RF chip, adjusting the frequency band or transmit power, or firmware updates that change the core wireless functions – these types of changes involving core wireless parameters must be re-assessed for compliance, and re-registered if necessary. Sales cannot continue after unauthorized changes.
If it is just changing the model name, changing the appearance color, or changing the manufacturer/authorized representative/importer – these types of changes where the core wireless parameters have not changed do not require re-going through the assessment or registration process, only updating the relevant information is sufficient.
Label, Manual and Traceability Requirements
When the product is launched, the CE mark, model number, name and address of the manufacturer or the responsible entity within the EU must be affixed to the label. The information must be clear, legible, and not easy to wear.
The manual must be provided in the official language version of the member state where it is sold. For example, products sold in Germany must have a German version. The content must include safety instructions and wireless parameter descriptions, and cannot only provide an English version.
In addition, traceability must be ensured: the production batch and key links of the supply chain can be traced through the product identification, so that the source can be quickly located when problems occur.
Technical Document Storage Requirements
The manufacturer is responsible for establishing and storing technical documents. For manufacturers outside the EU, it shall be ensured that manufacturers, authorized representatives or importers within the EU can fully provide relevant documents within the specified time limit required by the market supervision department; the specific storage obligation of the authorized representative depends on the scope of the written authorization of both parties.
The storage period is at least 10 years from the date when the last batch of products is placed on the EU market. When requested by the market supervision department for access, they must be provided in a timely manner, and must not be concealed or tampered with.
Mass Production Consistency Requirements
Mass-produced products must be completely consistent with the samples and parameters at the time of assessment/registration, and parts shall not be replaced without authorization to reduce costs. Especially for key components, such as wireless modules, antennas, and power supplies, the impact on compliance must be evaluated before replacement, and replacement can only be done after confirming there are no problems. Otherwise, if found in random inspections, they will face severe penalties.
Market Supervision and Recall Handling
EU market supervision departments will conduct random inspections of products on sale, not only checking whether compliance documents are complete, but also may actually test whether product parameters are consistent with the submitted materials.
If non-compliance is found in random inspections, rectification must be carried out as required. In serious cases, products must be recalled, and even prohibited from being placed on the entire EU market. Recall information must be synchronously notified to the competent authorities of the member states where the products are sold, and shall not be handled privately.
Responsibilities After Product Delisting
If the product is no longer placed on the EU market in the future, there is no need to actively cancel the NB assessment or RED Article 5 registration, and some regions also support active application for cancellation. However, it should be noted that within the 10-year document storage period, if the product is found to have compliance problems, the manufacturer still needs to bear corresponding responsibilities, and the responsibility is not exempted after delisting.
Common Misconceptions and Pitfall Avoidance Guide
We have sorted out the most common compliance pitfalls, and avoiding them in advance can reduce unnecessary costs and risks.
Cognitive Misconceptions (Most Easily Made by Beginners)
- Misconception 1: RED notification is just testing – wrong. Testing is a preliminary evidence-gathering link used to prove that the product meets the requirements, while the commonly referred to “notification” is the NB assessment or government registration process. The two belong to different links and cannot be confused.
- Misconception 2: Having a CE mark equals having completed RED notification – wrong. CE is a compliance mark, which can be affixed as long as the product meets the corresponding requirements. Neither NB assessment nor Article 5 registration is a mandatory requirement for all products, and you cannot reverse-derive that “having CE means you must have done notification”.
- Misconception 3: All wireless products need RED registration – wrong. Only specific categories of products need to handle RED Article 5 registration, and most ordinary Bluetooth and WiFi products do not need to. Avoid mistaking non-mandatory processes for mandatory requirements, resulting in unnecessary costs.
- Misconception 4: One notification/registration number can be used on all products – wrong. Only series products of the same model and with the same core wireless parameters can share it. Products of different models and different parameters need to be handled separately.
Operational Misconceptions (Easily Leading to Compliance Invalidity)
- Misconception 1: If the wireless module has an NB certificate, the whole machine does not need assessment – wrong. After the module is installed in the whole machine, the antenna, power supply, and installation environment will change, which may affect wireless parameters. A whole-machine assessment must be carried out, and the module certificate cannot be directly used as the compliance proof of the whole machine.
- Misconception 2: Finding unqualified third parties to handle on behalf, and false information of the responsible entity – all documents issued in such cases may not be recognized by regulators. In mild cases, customs will detain the goods, and in severe cases, fines will be imposed, and even be included in the market access ban list.
- Misconception 3: The actual parameters of the product are inconsistent with the submitted assessment/registration parameters – if found by the market supervision department, it will be directly required to be removed from shelves and recalled. In severe cases, it will be banned from sale across the EU, which is not worth the loss.
- Misconception 4: Incorrect use of NB number – for example, using the number of an institution that did not participate in the assessment, or using the number of an ordinary testing institution as the NB number, are all non-compliant situations. The NB number marked next to the CE mark must be the number of the institution that actually participated in the corresponding assessment link.
Practical Tips for Cost-Effective Compliance
First, products of the same series with exactly the same core wireless parameters can be combined for NB assessment and RED Article 5 registration, without the need to apply separately for each model, which can save part of the cost.
Second, confirm in advance that the frequency band used by the product is within the legal scope of the EU, choose a formal NB and a responsible entity within the EU, to avoid invalid documents due to qualification issues, which will instead lead to higher hidden costs.
Third, prioritize designing products according to harmonized standards. If the self-declaration path can be taken, there is no need to find an NB, which not only saves costs but also ensures more stable compliance.
Fourth, evaluate the impact on compliance before product changes, to avoid the need to redo after assessment or registration due to changes, which wastes time and money.
Quick Self-Inspection and Capability Summary
1-Minute Self-Inspection: Which RED Process You Need to Follow
- Step 1: Is the product sold to the EU, has intentional wireless transceiver functions, and does not belong to RED excluded categories? → If yes, it needs to meet RED requirements; if no, the RED Directive is usually not applicable, but it is still necessary to judge whether the product meets the requirements of other EU-related regulations such as LVD, EMC, RoHS, GPSR, etc.
- Step 2: Is the product not fully covered by harmonized standards, or are there additional requirements from delegated regulations? → If yes, NB conformity assessment is required; if no, just follow the self-declaration path.
- Step 3: Is the product included in the registration scope by the EU RED Article 5 delegated regulations? → If yes, RED Article 5 registration is required; at the same time, it is necessary to separately check whether the target sales member state has special requirements such as local spectrum use licenses, equipment registration, or pre-sales notifications. If yes, handle them according to local rules.
Capabilities You Can Master After Reading This Guide
After sorting out all the rules, you can establish a complete RED compliance judgment logic: first, you can accurately distinguish the boundary between NB conformity assessment and RED Article 5 registration, and will not be misled by third-party promotions that confuse concepts; second, you can quickly judge whether the product is under RED’s jurisdiction and whether it needs to go through the NB assessment or registration process; third, you can sort out the core materials and key steps of the two types of processes, and prepare in advance; fourth, you can identify the validity of NB certificates and registration numbers and common usage misconceptions; fifth, you can judge whether product changes require reassessment, and know the core subsequent compliance obligations.
Core Conclusions
First, the “notification” under the RED framework is not a single process, but is divided into two independent matters: Notified Body (NB) conformity assessment and RED Article 5 product registration. The general national notification under the old R&TTE Directive has become invalid, and there is no mandatory notification requirement common to all wireless products.
Second, whether it is necessary to handle it and which type of process to handle depends on the wireless function attributes of the product, the coverage of harmonized standards, as well as the requirements of the EU RED Article 5 delegated regulation list and local special rules of the target member state, which need to be judged in combination with the actual situation.
Third, regardless of whether the self-declaration or NB assessment path is adopted, and regardless of whether registration is required, the manufacturer always bears primary responsibility for the final compliance of the product.