Deadline CalendarEU RED

EU Radio Equipment Directive deadlines and compliance calendar

This RED calendar helps plan product launches, documentation freezes, CE marking checks, common-charger updates, cybersecurity evidence, and standards monitoring for radio equipment placed on the EU market.

The key fixed dates are 13 June 2016 for RED application, 12 June 2017 for the end of the transition period, 28 December 2024 for most common-charger device categories, 1 August 2025 for RED cybersecurity requirements, and 28 April 2026 for laptops.

Back to main artifactReview sources
Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
May 9, 2026
Sections
4

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
9

Cited legal and guidance references.

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

If your product is radio equipment, start with the category. Most products follow RED from 13 June 2016, but the common-charger date applies to the listed handheld categories from 28 December 2024, laptops from 28 April 2026, and the RED cybersecurity requirements apply from 1 August 2025 for the affected categories. Use the deadline that matches your product, then work back to the release gate for test evidence, labels, instructions, and the EU declaration.

Section 1

Fixed RED dates to put on the launch calendar

Directive 2014/53/EU was published in the Official Journal on 22 May 2014, entered into force on 11 June 2014, and has applied from 13 June 2016. The Commission RED overview also notes a one-year transition that ended on 12 June 2017, during which manufacturers could place radio equipment compliant with either RED or the earlier applicable EU legislation.

For current launches, the most operational RED dates are category-specific: common-charger duties apply to handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems from 28 December 2024, and to laptops from 28 April 2026. RED cybersecurity duties under Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f), as activated by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 and amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2444, apply from 1 August 2025.

  • 13 June 2016: treat RED as the baseline directive for radio equipment placed on the EU market.
  • 12 June 2017: do not rely on the former transition period for new placements on the market.
  • 28 December 2024: calendar common-charger, pictogram, label, instructions, and unbundling checks for the listed handheld categories.
  • 1 August 2025: calendar cybersecurity conformity evidence for affected internet-connected, childcare, toy, wearable, and payment-related radio equipment categories.
  • 28 April 2026: calendar common-charger checks for laptops.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Legal text for RED application, transition, essential requirements, conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and technical documentation duties.
European Commission - Radio Equipment Directive overview
Commission overview confirming RED publication, entry into force, applicability, and the one-year transition period ending on 12 June 2017.
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 on common chargers for radio equipment
Amending directive for common-charger categories, consumer information, pictogram and label duties, charger unbundling, and the 2024 and 2026 application dates.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2444 on RED cybersecurity application date
Amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 so the RED cybersecurity requirements apply from 1 August 2025.
Recommended next step

Turn RED dates into release gates

Map RED applicability, common-charger, cybersecurity, standards, CE marking, declaration, and retention dates to product owners and evidence before launch.

Research workflow
Open Research Copilot

Check RED deadline and standards questions against cited EU sources.

Explore next step
Talk to Sorena
Talk through implementation

Review your launch calendar, evidence file, and conformity route.

Explore next step
Section 2

Calendar workstreams by obligation

A RED compliance calendar should separate legal dates from release gates. The legal date tells the team which obligation is active; the release gate should say when the product file, supplier evidence, labels, instructions, test reports, notified-body route decision, EU declaration, and packaging artwork must be ready.

Common-charger planning needs extra granularity because it affects hardware, packaging, distance-selling pages, consumer information, and SKU strategy. Cybersecurity planning should confirm whether the equipment is in an affected Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 category and whether harmonised standards fully cover the relevant Article 3(3) requirements by the time the conformity route is chosen.

  • Scope gate: confirm whether the product intentionally emits or receives radio waves and whether it falls within any RED exclusions.
  • Standards gate: check the OJEU references for the exact standard versions and withdrawal dates that support presumption of conformity.
  • Conformity route gate: decide whether internal production control is enough or whether EU-type examination or full quality assurance with a notified body is required for the requirements being assessed.
  • Common-charger gate: verify USB-C, charging protocol, pictogram, label, instructions, packaging, online display, and charger-unbundling requirements for listed categories.
  • Cybersecurity gate: verify Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) applicability, affected product category, standards coverage, technical evidence, and residual notified-body need before 1 August 2025 launches.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Sets the RED conformity assessment routes, presumption of conformity through OJEU-cited harmonised standards, CE marking, declaration, and technical documentation framework.
European Commission - Radio equipment harmonised standards
Commission page for RED harmonised-standard references, including the OJEU summary list and standards-monitoring context.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 on RED cybersecurity
Identifies categories of radio equipment covered by Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity, privacy, and fraud-protection requirements.
European Commission - One common charging solution for all
Commission common-charger guidance summarising USB-C, fast charging, charger unbundling, consumer pictograms and labels, and the 2024 and 2026 category dates.
Section 3

Evidence and retention dates

Calendar the evidence freeze before the legal deadline, not on the deadline itself. Article 10 requires manufacturers to draw up technical documentation, carry out the relevant conformity assessment, draw up the EU declaration of conformity, affix CE marking, and keep the technical documentation and EU declaration for 10 years after the radio equipment has been placed on the market.

Importers also have 10-year declaration-retention obligations, and economic operators must be able to identify who supplied them with radio equipment and to whom they supplied it for 10 years. For deadline planning, this means the calendar should include document-retention ownership after launch, not only pre-launch testing.

  • Before market placement: freeze scope, intended operating conditions, radio configurations, essential-requirements matrix, standards list, and test evidence.
  • Before packaging release: verify CE marking, notified-body identification number where applicable, common-charger pictogram or label where applicable, instructions, safety information, and simplified EU declaration URL.
  • At launch: store the EU declaration, technical file, supplier evidence, test reports, risk assessment, and conformity route decision with the product identifier and market-placement date.
  • After launch: retain manufacturer technical documentation and EU declaration for 10 years after the equipment is placed on the market, and keep operator traceability records for the required 10-year windows.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Binding source for the 10-year manufacturer, importer, and traceability retention duties and the required technical documentation and declaration contents.
Commission Notice - Blue Guide on EU product rules (2022)
General EU product-law guidance for economic operator roles, CE marking, EU declarations, traceability, and market-surveillance concepts used alongside RED.
European Commission - Notified bodies
Commission guidance explaining notified bodies and linking to NANDO for legislation-specific notified-body searches.
Section 4

Calendar controls for standards and amendments

Do not treat a RED calendar as finished after the launch date is entered. Harmonised-standard references can be added, restricted, or withdrawn, and product changes can require the conformity assessment to be revisited. Directive 2014/53/EU requires changes in radio equipment design or characteristics and changes in harmonised standards or other technical specifications to be adequately taken into account.

For recurring calendar reviews, track OJEU standards updates, Commission delegated and implementing acts, supplier firmware or hardware changes, notified-body certificate conditions, complaints, field incidents, authority correspondence, and any change to charging accessories or software that could affect the declared configuration.

  • Review OJEU standard references before design freeze, before EU declaration approval, and before major firmware, radio-module, antenna, charger, enclosure, or supplier changes.
  • Record whether each harmonised standard is applied in full or in part, and document the alternative solutions used where standards are not applied or do not cover the requirement.
  • Calendar certificate surveillance, additions, or reassessment where a notified body has issued an EU-type examination certificate or quality-system approval.
  • Calendar post-launch reviews when a standard is withdrawn, a delegated act changes category coverage, or a product update changes radio, charging, cybersecurity, or software behavior.
Sources for this answer
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
Requires series-production controls to account for design, characteristics, harmonised-standard, and technical-specification changes.
European Commission - Radio equipment harmonised standards
Official Commission standards page used to monitor RED harmonised-standard references, restrictions, and withdrawals.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2444 on RED cybersecurity application date
Example of a RED delegated act changing a practical compliance date because of standards-development timing.
Primary sources

References and citations

Commission Notice - Blue Guide on EU product rules (2022)
eur-lex.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • General EU product-law guidance for economic operator roles, CE marking, EU declarations, traceability, and market-surveillance concepts used alongside RED.
"The manufacturer is responsible for the conformity assessment."
Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
eur-lex.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Requires series-production controls to account for design, characteristics, harmonised-standard, and technical-specification changes.
"changes in the harmonised standards"
European Commission - Notified bodies
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Commission guidance explaining notified bodies and linking to NANDO for legislation-specific notified-body searches.
"assess the conformity of certain products"
European Commission - One common charging solution for all
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Commission common-charger guidance summarising USB-C, fast charging, charger unbundling, consumer pictograms and labels, and the 2024 and 2026 category dates.
"These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026."
Related guides

Explore more topics

Are radio kits and evaluation boards covered by the RED? | RED FAQ
RED FAQ for radio kits, construction kits, amateur-radio kits, and custom-built professional R&D evaluation boards under Directive 2014/53/EU.
EU Radio Equipment Directive Timeline: practical guide
EU Radio Equipment Directive guide to Timeline with scope decisions, owner actions, evidence records, cited citations, and practical next steps.
EU RED Applicability Test for Radio Equipment
Decide whether Directive 2014/53/EU applies to a connected product, which RED requirements are triggered, and what evidence belongs in the technical file.
EU RED Common Charger FAQ: Which devices need USB-C?
FAQ on EU RED common charger scope, 28 December 2024 and 28 April 2026 dates, USB-C, USB Power Delivery, charger unbundling, labels, pictograms, and evidence.
EU RED Common Charger Obligations: USB-C scope, dates, labels
cited RED common charger guide covering in-scope device categories, 28 December 2024 and 28 April 2026 dates, USB-C, USB PD, charger unbundling, labels, pictograms, and evidence.
EU RED compliance evidence guide
Build a Radio Equipment Directive compliance file with Article 3 requirement mapping, harmonised-standard checks, conformity assessment evidence, EU declarations, CE marking, and RED source links.
EU RED Cybersecurity Product Categories: 2022/30 scope
cited guide to RED Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 product categories for Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f), carve-outs, 1 August 2025 application, and release evidence.
EU RED FAQ: Scope, CE and USB-C
Answers to common EU RED questions on radio equipment scope, Article 3 requirements, cybersecurity, USB-C common charger rules, CE marking, and technical-file evidence.
EU RED Radio Equipment Scope: products and exclusions
Decide whether a product is radio equipment under Directive 2014/53/EU, with RED scope tests, exclusions, examples, and evidence records.
EU RED Requirements Map: CE and Article 3
Map Radio Equipment Directive requirements for radio products: Article 3 safety, EMC, spectrum, selected Article 3(3) duties, common charger rules, conformity assessment, CE marking, EU declaration, and technical documentation.
EU RED Scope and Classification
Classify products under the EU Radio Equipment Directive with cited tests for radio equipment scope, exclusions, Article 3 requirement buckets, cybersecurity, common charging, and evidence records.
EU RED Scope Classification Workflow
Classify products under the EU Radio Equipment Directive with a cited workflow for RED scope, exclusions, Article 3 requirements, standards, CE evidence, cybersecurity, and common-charger triggers.
RED Article 10 labelling, instructions, and restrictions
cited RED Article 10 guide for radio equipment labels, manufacturer contact details, instructions, DoC statements, frequency information, and use restrictions.
RED Article 3 requirement selection workflow
Select the right RED Article 3 branches for radio equipment: safety, EMC, spectrum, delegated Article 3(3) duties, cybersecurity, common charging, evidence, and conformity assessment.
RED Article 3 Requirements: Safety, EMC, Spectrum and Cyber
Map Radio Equipment Directive Article 3(1), 3(2), and 3(3) requirements to safety, EMC, spectrum, interoperability, emergency, software, and cyber evidence.
RED Compliance Checklist for Radio Equipment
cited RED checklist for radio equipment scope, Article 3 requirements, technical documentation, DoC, CE marking, cybersecurity, common charger, and notified-body decisions.
RED conformity assessment and CE marking
EU Radio Equipment Directive guide to Article 17 conformity modules, notified-body triggers, technical documentation, EU declarations, and CE marking.
RED Conformity Assessment Template
Template fields for documenting RED Article 3 requirements, Article 17 route selection, harmonised standards, notified-body evidence, technical documentation, EU declaration, CE marking, cybersecurity, and common-charger checks.
RED Cyber Compliance Workflow for Article 3(3)(d/e/f)
A cited RED cybersecurity workflow for internet-connected radio equipment, privacy and data safeguards, payment-fraud features, evidence packs, and CE release gates.
RED Cybersecurity Delegated Act Guide | Article 3(3)(d/e/f)
Practical guide to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 under the Radio Equipment Directive, covering Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity scope, 1 August 2025 application, evidence, standards, and notified-body checkpoints.
RED Cybersecurity Requirements for Radio Equipment
EU RED cybersecurity requirements under Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f): scope, affected radio equipment, application date, standards, notified bodies, and evidence.
RED DoC and CE marking file: what to include
FAQ answer for Radio Equipment Directive declarations of conformity, CE marking evidence, technical documentation, notified-body records, and related labels.
RED EMC and LVD Safety Interplay for Radio Equipment
Explain how EU RED Article 3 applies LVD safety objectives and EMC requirements to radio equipment, with evidence, test-plan, and technical-file guidance.
RED Harmonised Standards and Test Plans: OJEU evidence guide
Build a Radio Equipment Directive standards matrix and test plan around OJEU-cited harmonised standards, Article 3 requirements, Article 17 route triggers, and Annex V technical-file evidence.
RED importer obligations FAQ | Directive 2014/53/EU
What importers must check before placing radio equipment on the EU market: conformity assessment, spectrum use, technical documentation, EU declaration, CE marking, traceability, instructions, restrictions, storage, corrective action, and authority cooperation.
RED notified body route selection under Article 17
Decide when RED radio equipment can use internal production control and when Article 17 requires Annex III EU-type examination or Annex IV full quality assurance.
RED Notified Body Trigger Workflow: Article 17 evidence guide
Decide when the EU Radio Equipment Directive needs a notified body by mapping Article 3 requirements, OJEU-cited harmonised standards, Annex III EU-type examination, and Annex IV full quality assurance evidence.
RED penalties, fines, and enforcement actions
EU Radio Equipment Directive penalties guide covering Article 46, Member State penalty rules, recalls, withdrawals, formal non-compliance, and enforcement evidence.
RED radio modules FAQ: host product assessment
FAQ on how Directive 2014/53/EU treats RF modules and host products, including module evidence, final-product responsibility, Article 3 assessment, technical documentation, instructions, antennas, software, and DoC records.
RED SAR and RF Exposure Evidence FAQ
What SAR and RF exposure evidence to keep under the EU Radio Equipment Directive, including Article 3(1)(a), foreseeable use, frequency, power, antenna, and standards evidence.
RED software update impact for radio equipment
Assess when firmware, app, and software updates can affect EU Radio Equipment Directive conformity, technical documentation, DoC, standards, and notified-body evidence.
RED standards not cited in the OJEU: can you use them?
FAQ answer for Radio Equipment Directive products when a standard is useful but not OJEU-cited, including presumption of conformity, Article 17 route selection, and technical-file evidence.
RED vs Cyber Resilience Act: radio equipment cyber scope
Compare RED cybersecurity duties with Cyber Resilience Act planning for connected radio equipment, using official source RED scope, evidence, dates, and caveats.
RED vs EMC Directive: when radio equipment uses RED instead of EMCD
Compare the EU Radio Equipment Directive and EMC Directive for radio products, EMC evidence, CE marking, declarations, technical files, and scope boundaries.
RED vs ETSI EN 303 645: IoT cyber evidence comparison
Compare EU RED cybersecurity duties with ETSI EN 303 645 evidence reuse for connected radio products, OJEU standards, CE files, and 1 August 2025 planning.
RED vs LVD: when radio equipment uses RED for electrical safety
Compare the EU Radio Equipment Directive and Low Voltage Directive for radio-product safety, voltage limits, CE marking, technical files, and declarations.
RED vs Market Surveillance Regulation: radio equipment compliance roles
Compare RED product conformity duties with EU Market Surveillance Regulation controls for radio equipment, online sales, responsible operators, customs holds, and evidence.
RED vs UK PSTI for connected radio products
Compare EU RED duties with UK PSTI planning for connected radio products: scope, actors, evidence, cybersecurity overlap, CE marking, and separate UK product-security workstreams.
When do RED cybersecurity requirements apply to connected radio equipment? | RED FAQ
RED FAQ explaining when Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity requirements apply to internet-connected, childcare, toy, wearable, and payment-capable radio equipment.
Which receivers and transmitters are covered by RED? | Directive 2014/53/EU FAQ
RED scope FAQ for products that intentionally emit or receive radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including receiver-only products, transmitters, accessory-dependent products, and common exclusions.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Products Under the EU RED
FAQ for assessing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, BLE and other short-range wireless products under the EU Radio Equipment Directive, including Article 3, CE, technical file, cybersecurity and notified-body triggers.