All electric devices or installations influence each other when interconnected or close to each other, e.g. interference between TV sets, GSM handsets, radios and nearby washing machine or electrical power lines. The purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all those side effects under reasonable control. EMC designates all the existing and future techniques and technologies for reducing disturbance and enhancing immunity.
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD) ensures that electrical and electronic equipment does not generate, or is not affected by, electromagnetic disturbance.
Evaluation of the EMCD
- Study on the evaluation of the EMCD
- Evaluation of the EMCD – Staff working document
- Executive summary of the evaluation – SWD translation in FR and DE
What the Commission does
The (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU limits electromagnetic emissions from equipment to ensure that, when used as intended, such equipment does not disturb radio and telecommunication, as well as other equipment. The directive also governs the immunity of such equipment to interference and seeks to ensure that this equipment is not disturbed by radio emissions, when used as intended.
The main objectives of the directives are to regulate the compatibility of equipment regarding EMC
- equipment (apparatus and fixed installations) needs to comply with EMC requirements when it is placed on the market and/or taken into service
- the application of good engineering practice is required for fixed installations, with the possibility that competent authorities of EU countries may impose measures in instances of non-compliance
The (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU was published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 96/79, 29 March 2014, and repealed Directive 2004/108/EC as from 20 April 2016.
This directive is aligned to the new legislative framework policy and will keep the same scope as Directive 2004/108/EC.
Guides
The objective of the guide is to assist with the common application of the Directive 2014/30/EU. The guide has no weight in law, but deals with a number of practical issues that are of interest to manufacturers and other stakeholders.
- Guide for the EMCD (Directive 2014/30/EU) (1MB) available in English, French and German,
- Questions and answers on the transition from Directive 2004/108/EC to 2014/30/EU (526 kB)
- EMC ADCO information for economic operators (299 kB)
Issues with respect to implementation are regularly considered.
ADCO documents and recommendations
The administrative co-operation (EMC ADCO) is an independent working group run and chaired by the EU countries.
The group is a forum for cooperation and exchange of information between national market surveillance authorities.
EMC ADCO information sheet for economic operators (299 KB)
Example of EU declaration of conformity (DoC) adopted by EMC ADCO (Word document, 39 kB)
European language requirements for products covered by EMCD 2014/30/EU (2.0)
Results of the latest market surveillance campaigns of ADCO - market surveillance reports
- Report on the 10th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on PLC (2018)
- Report on the 9th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on eCigarettes (2017)
- Report on the 8th joint cross-border EMC market surveillance campaign on inductive appliances (2017)
- Report on the 7th joint cross-border EMC/LVD market surveillance campaign on LED floodlights (2017)
- Report on the 6th Joint Cross-Border EMC market surveillance campaign on solar panel inverters (2014) (86 kB)
For more reports, please see the ADCO page.
Working party documents
The working party (EMC WP) deals with general policy issues related to the management and implementation of the directive. It is chaired by the Commission and involves EU national authorities, standardisers, notified bodies, industry and other interested parties. EMC WP documents are not legally binding. They aim at clarifying certain provisions or elements of the directive.
Documents adopted or endorsed by EMC WP
European harmonised standards are developed by the European standardisation organisations (ESOs) following a mandate issued by the European Commission. The EMC directive also requires publication in the OJEU of the references to these standards in order for them to be harmonised and so provide for a presumption of conformity.
Mandates
| M/552 - general mandate for harmonised standards under EMC Directive 2014/30/EU |
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Notified bodies are conformity assessment bodies notified by the competent Member States' authorities to carry out the relevant conformity assessment procedures on products to be placed on the EU market, according to the applicable EU legislation. See the lists on the NANDO website.
- Notified bodies in new approach - single market - regulatory policy
- Bodies notified under Directive: 2014/30/EU - electromagnetic compatibility
EU conformity assessment bodies designated under all mutual recognition agreements (MRAs)
The conformity assessment body (CAB) is designated to carry out the relevant tasks defined in the legislation of the third country the European Union has signed a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) with Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States of America.
Workshop on coexistence challenges of the evolution in the use of the UHF band (Brussels, 12 December 2014)
- Agenda and presentations
- Workshop: coexistence challenges of the evolution in the use of the UHF band (12/12/2014)
3rd Workshop on receivers affected by new radio services LTE in the 800 MHz band (October 2012)
- Chairman's summary (62 kB)
- Agenda and links to the presentations (35 kB)
2nd Workshop on cable TV receivers affected by new radio services in the 800 MHz band (June 2010)
- BENETZA: Immunity of integrated TV receivers, set top boxes and data modems connected to broadband cable and TV networks against radiation from LTE user equipment (97 kB)
- CABLE EUROPE: Joint effort on mitigating interference: a cable perspective (45 kB)
- Chairman JWG: Report from the CENELEC/ETSI JWG on the digital dividend (166 kB)
- Philips: Digital dividend from the point of view of a TV manufacturer (320 kB)
- Vodafone: Cable TV receivers and new radio services in the 800MHz band: An operator perspective (243 kB)
Deliverables from the joint working group ETSI/CENELEC on the digital dividend (August 2010)
EU countries have the primary responsibility to implement the EMC directive. Manufacturers have to give notice of their intention to place certain types of equipment on the market, and market surveillance authorities communicate with manufacturers when they suspect that products do not comply with the Directive.
- Central contact points in charge of implementation of Directive 2014/30/EU (285 kB)
- Central contact points in charge of the market surveillance under Directive 2014/30/EU (224 kB)
Contact
- GROW-DIR-EMC
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (GROW-DIR-EMC[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Unregulated certificates warning
Unregulated certificates, which are often called ‘voluntary certificates’ besides other names, are often issued for some products covered by EU harmonisation legislation by certification bodies not acting in their capacity as notified bodies under EU law. These practices are misleading since only notified bodies may issue certificates of compliance for harmonised products and only in the area for which they are notified. For example, if a body is notified to issue certificates for machinery, it should not issue certificates (voluntary or other) for non-machinery products (such as personal protective equipment – masks).
Please note that, under EU law, voluntary or other additional certificates are not a recognised means to prove compliance. Consequently, they have no value in the case of checks by market surveillance authorities or customs. However, an exception arises in instances where voluntary certification is outlined in specific legislation. In such cases, while the certificate is not obligatory, it must adhere to explicit requirements if chosen to be acquired.
Voluntary certificates can create the impression that the product conforms with applicable EU harmonisation legislation, although such certificates are not issued by an authorised body.
Voluntary certificates must not be confused with third-party conformity assessment certification by notified bodies within the area for of competence for which they are notified, due to the use of terms such as ‘certification’ or ‘independent third party’ or the presence of the CE marking on the certificate.
CE marking can only be affixed after testing the product and performing the conformity assessment procedure prescribed by the applicable EU harmonisation legislation. It is not acceptable for voluntary certificates to bear a CE marking.