As noted in a previous posting, on June 8, 1998, the Council adopted EC Common Position 39/98 that proposes a Directive on radio equipment and telecommuniations terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity. This is my analysis of the proposed Directive as it relates to radios. Your comments would be appreciated if you have any differences.
> Summary: Once harmonized standards are in place, the manufacturer may > perform the tests and place the equipment on the market without the need > for additional national licensing. If harmonized standards are not in > place, the manufacturer may perform the tests, have them approved by a > notified body, notify the Member State of the intent to sell, and then > sell the equipment after four weeks if there is no objection from the > Member State. The highlights of the new Directive are as follows: > > > * The Directive establishes a regulatory framework for the placing on > the market, free movement and putting into service in the Community of > radio equipment. > * Radio equipment must comply with three essential requirements: > * the protection requirements of The Low Voltage Directive with no > lower voltage limit (was 50 V), and > * the protection requirements of the EMC Directives, and > * in addition, the equipment shall be so constructed that it > effectively uses the spectrum allocated. > * Harmonized standards will be used to determine compliance with the > essential requirements. > * Equipment will not be subject to any other national provisions > (licensing) when harmonized standards are in place (new). > * Information shall be placed on the packaging and instructions > indicating the Member States or the geographical area within a Member > State where the equipment is intended to be used (new). > * The equipment shall be marked to alert the user to the potential > restrictions or requirements for authorization for use in certain Member > States (new). > * If the frequency band is not harmonized, the manufacturer shall > notify the Member State of the intention to place the radio on the market > and the radio's specifications. The State must respond within four weeks. > If no response is received, the manufacturer may proceed to sell the > equipment (new). > * As an alternative to the conformity assessment procedures for safety > and EMC contained in this Directive, the existing procedures of the Low > Voltage and EMC Directives may be used. > * Where the harmonized standards have been applied, the conformity > assessment procedure is as follows: > * A technical documentation package must be produced that describes > the product and includes a test report. > * A Declaration of Conformity is issued. > * The harmonized essential radio test suites must be performed. If no > harmonized test suite exists, it must be specified by a notified body. > * The radio test suite may be performed by the manufacturer (new). > * The equipment must be CE marked including the ID for the notified > body (new marking). > * Where harmonized standards have not been adopted, the following > steps shall be added to the conformity assessment process described above > (this is the procedure we use today if the ETSI standards are not > adopted), > * a Technical Construction File must be produced, and > * it must be reviewed by a notified body, and > * the notified body must respond with an opinion within four weeks, > and > * upon receipt of a favorable opinion, or after four weeks, the > equipment may be placed on the market (new). > * Equipment must be identified by the manufacturer by means of type, > batch and/or serial number (new), and by name of the manufacturer. > * The Directive shall become effective 12 months after it is published > in the OJ. > > >
