Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment

Radio and telecommunications terminal equipment

This Directive establishes a regulatory framework for the placing on the market, free movement and putting into service in the EU of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment. The aim of this Directive is to create an open and competitive single market for radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment. It also aims to ensure a high level of health and safety protection.

ACT

Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

This Directive is intended to encourage rapid dissemination of innovative technology and thus promote competition in the internal market for telecommunications.

Scope

In addition to radio equipment * and telecommunications terminal equipment *, the Directive also applies to apparatus * which:

• incorporates, as an integral part or as an accessory, a medical device within the meaning of Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices;
• incorporates, as an integral part or as an accessory, an active implantable medical device within the meaning of Directive 90/385/EEC on active implantable medical devices;
• constitutes a component or a separate technical unit of a vehicle, within the meaning of Directive 72/245/EEC relating to radio interference caused by motor vehicles;
• constitutes a component or a separate technical unit of a vehicle, within the meaning of Directive 92/61/EEC relating to the type-approval of two- or three-wheel motor vehicles.

The Directive does not apply to apparatus exclusively used for activities concerning public security, defence, State security and the activities of the State in the area of criminal law; nor does it apply to:

• radio equipment used by radio amateurs, except when it is commercially available fully assembled;
• equipment covered by Directive 96/98/EC relating to marine equipment;
• wires and cables;
• radio equipment intended to be used solely for the reception of sound and TV broadcasting services;
• products, equipment or components within the meaning of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 relating to the field of civil aviation;

Essential requirements and harmonised European standards

Member States must ensure that apparatus complies with the essential requirements and is properly installed, maintained and used for its intended purpose before it is placed on the market.

The following essential requirements are applicable to the apparatus:

• protection of the health and safety of the user and any other person, including the security provisions laid down in Directive 73/23/EEC, relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (but with no lower voltage limit);
• electromagnetic compatibility as per Directive 89/336/EEC;
• use of the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radiocommunication and to orbital resources in such a way as to avoid harmful interference.

When an apparatus is in conformity with harmonised European standards, in accordance with the procedures established by Directive 98/34/EC, the Member States presume that the current Directive's requirements have been met.

Information and notification

Member States shall ensure that the manufacturers or the persons responsible for placing the apparatus on the market provide information on its use in the documentation or packaging, together with the declaration of conformity with the essential requirements.

More specifically, for radio equipment, this information must be sufficient to identify on the packaging and in the instructions for use of the apparatus the Member States or the geographical area within a Member State where the equipment is intended to be used.

For telecommunications terminal equipment, such information must identify the interfaces of the public telecommunications networks to which the equipment is intended to be connected.

CE marking

Apparatus which complies with all the essential requirements bears the CE conformity marking. Manufacturers identify their apparatus by stating its type, batch and/or serial numbers and by the name of the manufacturer or of the person responsible for placing the apparatus on the market.

If a notified body has been consulted by the manufacturer regarding the equipment's conformity with the Directive, its number accompanies the CE marking.

In its Decision 2000/299/EC of 6 April 2000, the Commission established a class of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment that cannot be used everywhere in the EU (as in the case of non-harmonised national frequency plans). This type of equipment must bear a corresponding warning mark along side th

e CE marking.

Placing on the market and free movement

Member States must not prohibit, restrict or impede the placing on the market and putting into service on their territory of any apparatus if it complies with the essential requirements and other provisions of the Directive.

If a Member State decides that apparatus does not meet the requirements of this Directive, it may prohibit, interrupt or restrict the placing on the market and also the putting into service of that apparatus.

Putting into service and the safeguard clause

Member States may restrict the putting into service of radio equipment only for reasons relating to the efficient and appropriate use of the radio spectrum, the need to avoid harmful interference, or public health issues.

If a Member State decides that an apparatus does not satisfy the requirements of the safeguard clause, it may take measures to withdraw it from service, to prohibit its being in service or to restrict its free movement.

Conformity assessment and notified bodies

This Directive lays down the procedures from which the manufacturer may choose for assessing conformity with the essential requirements for different types of equipment. Member States notify the Commission of the bodies they have designated to carry out the conformity assessment procedures.

If the manufacturer so chooses, the procedures for assessing conformity with essential requirements in Directive 73/23/EEC and Directive 89/336/EEC may also be used for assessing conformity with the respective requirements of those directives.

Key terms used in the act

Radio equipment: a product, or component thereof, capable of communication by means of the emission and/or reception of radio waves utilising the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication. Telecommunications terminal equipment: a product, or a component of a product, which is intended to be connected directly or indirectly to interfaces of public telecommunications networks. Apparatus: any radio equipment, telecommunications terminal equipment, or both.

REFERENCES

Act	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Directive 1999/5/EC [adoption : codecision COD/1997/0149]	07.04.1999	07.04.2000	OJ L 91 of 07.04.1999

Amending act(s)	Entry into force	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003.	20.11.2003	-	OJ L 284 of 31.10.2003

RELATED ACTS

Commission Decision 2005/631/EC of 29 August 2005 concerning essential requirements as referred to in Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ensuring access to Cospas-Sarsat locator beacons to emergency services. [Official Journal L 225 of 31.08.2005].

Commission Decision 2005/53/EC of 25 January 2005, relating to the application of Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council to radio equipment intended to participate in the Automatic Identification System (AIS) [Official Journal L 22 of 26.01.2005].

Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network (the interoperability Regulation) [Official Journal L 96 of 31.03.2004].

Commission Decision 2004/71/EC of 4 September 2003 on essential requirements relating to marine radio communication equipment which is intended to be used on non-SOLAS vessels and to participate in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) [Official Journal L 16 of 23.01.2004].

Commission Decision 2001/148/EC of 21 February 2001 on the application of Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC to avalanche beacons [Official Journal L 55 of 24.02.2001].

Commission Decision 2000/637/EC of 22 September 2000 on the application of Article 3(3)(e) of Directive 1999/5/EC to radio equipment covered by the regional arrangement concerning the radiotelephone service on inland waterways [Official Journal L 269 of 21.10.2000].

Commission Decision 2000/373/EC of 26 May 2000 concerning the request by France to maintain pursuant to Article 18(3) of Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (the Terminal Directive) a requirement for telecommunications terminal equipment intended for connection to the analogue public switched telephone network of France Telecom [Official Journal L 135 of 08.06.2000].

Commission Decision 2000/299/EC of 6 April 2000 establishing the initial classification of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and associated identifiers [Official Journal L 97 of 06.04.2000].

Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) [Official Journal L 199 of 30.07.1999].

Directive 98/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 1998 on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment [Official Journal L 101 of 01.04.1998].

Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonization of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation [Official Journal L 373 of 31.12.1991].

Last updated: 18.12.2006

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