Artifact GuideEU

EU Radio Equipment Directive Article 10 labelling and restrictions

Article 10 of the Radio Equipment Directive turns conformity work into visitor-visible artefacts: identifiers on the equipment or packaging, manufacturer contact details, instructions, safety information, frequency data, and a declaration of conformity route.

Use this page to decide what must appear on the equipment, packaging, accompanying documents, and instructions when EU radio-use restrictions or authorisation requirements apply.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
May 9, 2026
Sections
4

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
4

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata
Sorena AI
Published May 9, 2026
Updated May 9, 2026
Overview

RED Article 10 is not a generic labelling checklist. It links the manufacturer's conformity obligations to specific information that must travel with radio equipment: traceability details, contact details, instructions, safety information, transmitter frequency and power information, EU declaration wording, and extra packaging and instruction information when use is restricted in particular Member States or areas.

Section 1

What Article 10 requires before radio equipment is placed on the EU market

Start with the Article 10 obligation that matches the physical artefact. The manufacturer must keep the technical documentation and EU declaration for 10 years, put a type, batch, serial number, or equivalent identifier on the radio equipment unless size or nature requires packaging or accompanying-document placement, and provide the manufacturer's name, registered trade name or mark, and postal contact point.

Article 10 also requires instructions and safety information in a language easily understood by consumers and other end-users as determined by the Member State concerned. For radio equipment that intentionally emits radio waves, the instructions must include the operating frequency bands and maximum radio-frequency power transmitted in those bands.

  • Map each SKU to its equipment identifier, manufacturer contact details, instructions, safety information, EU declaration or simplified EU declaration, and CE-marking evidence.
  • For intentional transmitters, include the frequency bands and maximum transmitted radio-frequency power in the instructions, not only in engineering test records.
  • Keep the Article 10 review tied to the technical documentation so packaging, manuals, web DoC links, and release records tell the same story.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Binding Article 10 source for manufacturer identifiers, contact details, instructions, safety information, frequency and power information, EU declaration, and retention duties.
European Commission RED Guide
Commission guidance explaining Article 10 manufacturer responsibilities, including identifiers, instructions, DoC placement, and frequency/power information.
Section 2

When Article 10(10) restriction information is needed

Article 10(10) applies when there are restrictions on putting the radio equipment into service or requirements for authorisation of use. The packaging must allow identification of the Member States or the geographical area within a Member State where the restriction or authorisation requirement exists, and the instructions must complete that information.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354 specifies the packaging presentation. If the equipment is subject to those restrictions or authorisation requirements in at least one Member State, packaging must visibly and legibly show either the required pictogram or the words "Restrictions or Requirements in" followed by the relevant Member State abbreviations.

  • Do not add Article 10(10) restriction labels merely because the product is radio equipment; first document whether radio-use restrictions or authorisation requirements exist for the intended bands and markets.
  • If restrictions exist, identify the Member State or sub-national geographical area on packaging and give the actual restriction or authorisation details in the instructions.
  • Treat national spectrum plans, radio interface notifications, and market configuration limits as release inputs because Article 10(10) is triggered by use restrictions, not by product marketing preference.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Binding Article 10(10) source for packaging identification of Member States or geographical areas and completion of that information in instructions.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354
Binding implementing regulation specifying the Article 10(10) packaging pictogram or wording and instruction details for restricted or authorised-use equipment.
European Commission RED Guide
Commission guidance explaining that Article 10(10) restrictions relate to the radio function, including national frequency allocations and authorisation conditions.
Section 3

Implementation checklist for labels, packaging, and instructions

Run Article 10 as a packaging and documentation gate before the product is placed on the market. The useful output is a short evidence record that explains what appears on the equipment, what moves to packaging or accompanying documents because the equipment is too small or unsuitable, and whether Article 10(10) restriction information is needed.

  • Confirm the radio equipment model, intended EU markets, radio interfaces, operating bands, maximum transmitted power, and whether the product intentionally emits radio waves.
  • Check the physical label or data plate for product identification, manufacturer name or registered mark, postal contact point, and CE marking where applicable.
  • Check the accompanying materials for instructions, safety information, complete or simplified EU declaration of conformity, exact internet address for the full DoC when simplified, and Article 10(10) restriction details where needed.
  • If using the Article 10(10) pictogram route, verify the Member State abbreviations and legibility on the final packaging artwork.
  • Archive final artwork, manuals, DoC text, web DoC URL, restriction assessment, and approval history in the technical documentation.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Binding source for Article 10 label, instruction, DoC, CE marking, and restriction-information obligations.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354
Binding source for Article 10(10) pictogram, wording, Member State abbreviation, and instruction-detail presentation.
European Commission RED Guide
Commission guidance on technical documentation evidence for Article 10(2) and Article 10(10), including statements where there are no restrictions.
Recommended next step

Review RED labels before release

Check product marks, packaging artwork, instructions, DoC text, web links, and restriction statements against the exact radio configuration and EU markets before placing equipment on the market.

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Open Research Copilot

Answer RED scope, timing, and interpretation questions with cited outputs.

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Section 4

Common mistakes to avoid

The common failure is to treat Article 10 as a styling task instead of a legal-information task. The packaging artwork, product label, instructions, and DoC link must match the assessed radio configuration and the markets where the equipment will be made available.

  • Do not use the Article 10(10) pictogram without checking whether restrictions on putting into service or authorisation requirements actually apply.
  • Do not leave frequency bands, maximum transmitted power, restriction details, or the full DoC web address only in internal engineering files.
  • Do not assume electronic manuals cover every obligation; the RED Guide states that Article 10(8) second-subparagraph information and Article 10(10) information should be provided in paper.
  • Do not reuse old packaging after a radio module, antenna, firmware, operating band, Member State market, or national authorisation condition changes.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Binding source for the Article 10 obligations that must accompany radio equipment and the formal non-compliance consequences if required information is missing.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354
Binding source showing that Article 10(10) presentation rules apply only where restricted or authorised use exists in at least one Member State.
European Commission RED Guide
Commission guidance distinguishing restriction information from general instructions and explaining the paper-information expectation for specific RED information.
Primary sources

References and citations

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354
eur-lex.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Binding source showing that Article 10(10) presentation rules apply only where restricted or authorised use exists in at least one Member State.
"shall apply only"
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
eur-lex.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Binding source for the Article 10 obligations that must accompany radio equipment and the formal non-compliance consequences if required information is missing.
"usage restrictions"
European Commission RED Guide
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Commission guidance distinguishing restriction information from general instructions and explaining the paper-information expectation for specific RED information.
"shall be provided in paper"
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