New EMC Directive Published

From CKC Laboratories, Inc. Broadband Newsletter dated May 2014

In February of this year, the European Union published a new version of the law known as the EMC Directive. The new Directive 2014/30/EU will replace the previous version, 2004/108/EC. Highlights of new legislation include:

1. Expansion of EMC requirements to used equipment, being imported from outside the EU.
2. The directive applies to all forms of selling, including “distance selling.”
3. All “economic operators” i.e. anyone involved with placing a device on the EU market has the responsibility to ensure that the device meets the requirements of the EMC Directive.

Because of the above requirement, every importer needs to clearly post their contact information on the device. Exceptions are allowed if the device is too small for such placement or if the importer has to open the packaging to mark the device.

Although not changed, the definition and purpose of standards harmonized under the EMC directive have been clarified. Simply stated, testing to harmonized EMC standards is used by manufacturers to demonstrate conformity with the essential requirements of the directive. In other words, the technical standards and their purpose under the Directive remain mostly unchanged.

A single declaration of conformity (DoC) or a unified dossier of individual DoCs should be used to demonstrate conformity with all applicable directives. Member states have been instructed to set forth penalties for the infringement of the provisions of the EMC Directive. Such penalties should be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. This is indicative of a world-wide trend by many market surveillance agencies.

Please contact G&M Compliance, Inc. at 714.628.1020 for more information!