Steve Schofield, Director and CEO, British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) offers a quick overview of this contentious legislation.
The Radio Equipment Directive supersedes the former R&TTE (Radio & Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Directive and determines that all and any products that are equipped or combined with a device for transmitting or receiving signals via ‘radio waves’ is in scope of the Directive and so can, and will, be regarded as a RED product.
Some would argue that this is an unsatisfactory situation, with most companies taking a pragmatic view and continuing to follow the well-known and fully established procedure in accordance with the R&TTE Directive – the predecessor of RED. In this historical approach, all the equipment that combines to make the machine (and which is now subject to the Radio Equipment Directive) is shipped as one unit under a single Document of Conformity, and is declared in accordance with the Machinery Directive.
Clearly, the introduction of RED will create another layer of documentation and conformity requirement that will have far reaching implications for many equipment manufacturers, as they strive to effectively service the needs of the ‘connected environment’ and the ‘smart factory’.
The European Commission has now published the updated list of harmonised standards in the framework of the implementation of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), which came into effect on 14 July 2017 (C 229/24).
Additionally, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on RED has been recently updated. It covers key clarifications on the scope and application of RED, as well as the status of publication of harmonised standards, and how manufacturers can ensure compliance with the Directive in the absence of standards.
An informal meeting on the Radio Equipment Directive was organised and hosted by the Commission on 3rd October. This meeting focused on the harmonised standards prepared for Articles 3(2) and 3(3) which prescribe the essential requirements of the Directive.
More details on RED can be found in the Orgalime Guidance Document which is available from the BPMA, along with the list of FAQ’s. Please contact Steve Schofield at the BPMA - s.schofield@bpma.org.uk - to request your copies.
