A practical index of recurring RED questions for connected products, wireless modules, consumer devices, and other equipment that intentionally emits or receives radio waves.
Use it to route the first review: decide whether RED applies, identify the relevant Article 3 duties, confirm cybersecurity and common-charger triggers, and assemble CE and technical-file evidence.
Use these answers to identify the RED rule, product facts, and evidence needed for a scope or release decision. For cybersecurity, use the unit's market-placement date: Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 applies to covered equipment placed from 1 August 2025 through 10 December 2027, and repeals that category act from 11 December 2027.
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These focused FAQ modules break this artifact into narrower answer sets so teams can move straight to the right source-backed guidance.
Start with the questions that determine whether the product can be placed on the EU market under the : is it radio equipment, which Article 3 essential requirements apply, whether a delegated Article 3(3) requirement is triggered, whether a common-charger rule applies, and which conformity route supports the CE mark.
For each answer, record the product model, radio technology, intended use, EU role, applicable article or delegated act, source link, test or assessment evidence, and release owner. This record can then point to the supporting technical-file evidence.
Does the RED apply to my product?
Usually yes if the product intentionally emits or receives radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination and is made available on the EU market or put into service in the Union. Check the Directive's exclusions for specified amateur-radio, marine, airborne, State-use, and custom-built professional R&D evaluation equipment before concluding. Then identify the product's radio function, intended use, exact marketed configuration, applicable Article 3 requirements, and evidence file.
What evidence do I need for a RED decision?
Keep the scope memo, Article 3 matrix, standards or technical specifications used, test or assessment evidence, cybersecurity and common-charger evidence where applicable, labels and instructions, and the EU declaration and CE-marking record so the answer can be traced back to the product configuration.
Scope: confirm whether the product intentionally emits or receives radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination.
Requirements: map Article 3(1)(a), Article 3(1)(b), Article 3(2), and any applicable Article 3(3) requirement.
Cybersecurity: check whether Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 applies to the product category and whether the item is placed on the market from 1 August 2025 through 10 December 2027.
Common charger: check whether the device category is covered by the USB-C, fast-charging, unbundling, and consumer-information rules.
Conformity route: decide whether harmonised standards support internal production control or whether an EU-type examination or full quality-assurance route is needed.
Primary RED legal text for scope, essential requirements, conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and technical documentation.
making available on the market and putting into service
Commission overview of RED common-charger categories, USB-C charging port, fast-charging interoperability, charger unbundling, consumer information, and application dates.
USB-C is the common port
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Question 2
When is a product in RED scope?
RED applies to radio equipment made available on the EU market or put into service in the Union, unless an exclusion in the Directive applies. Record the radio function, intended use, accessories or software needed for intended operation, and whether the product is a finished item, module, kit, receiver, transmitter, or connected device.
A scope record should state the radio technology, frequency or spectrum assumptions, intended communication or radiodetermination use, EU economic operator role, and any reason a different EU product regime is also being checked.
Keep a scope memo with the product identifier, hardware and firmware version, radio interface, intended EU market, and assumptions.
Check whether the product can be operated in at least one Member State without infringing spectrum-use requirements before import or launch.
Reopen the scope decision after radio module swaps, antenna changes, firmware changes affecting radio behavior, new markets, or new accessories.
Defines RED subject matter, scope, radio equipment, making available on the market, placing on the market, and economic-operator obligations.
radio equipment
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Question 3
Which Article 3 requirements apply?
Separate the baseline Article 3 requirements from delegated Article 3(3) requirements. Article 3(1)(a) covers health and safety protections, Article 3(1)(b) covers electromagnetic compatibility, and Article 3(2) covers effective and efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference.
Article 3(3) requirements apply only where the relevant category or class has been specified. Identify the activating act for each applicable point in the product's requirement matrix.
Use a matrix with one row per Article 3 requirement and columns for applicability, standard or technical solution, test evidence, owner, and unresolved assumptions.
For harmonised standards, record the exact standard, edition, OJEU citation status, clauses applied, and any limitations or partial application.
If a harmonised standard is not applied or is only partly applied, document the alternative technical solution used to meet the essential requirement.
Sets the Article 3 essential requirements and the technical-documentation expectation to list harmonised standards or alternative technical specifications.
Commission overview for the role of harmonised standards and presumption of conformity under EU product rules.
Harmonised standards are European standards
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Question 4
When do RED cybersecurity requirements apply?
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 applies Article 3(3)(d) to internet-connected radio equipment. It applies Article 3(3)(e) to listed categories that can process personal data, traffic data, or location data, including internet-connected radio equipment, childcare radio equipment, toy radio equipment, and wearable radio equipment. It applies Article 3(3)(f) to internet-connected radio equipment that enables transfer of money, monetary value, or virtual currency.
The same delegated regulation states that it applies from 1 August 2025, as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2444. Record the specific product category, data or payment function, derogation being considered, and evidence showing how the applicable Article 3(3) point is met. The medical-device derogation covers points (d), (e), and (f); the listed aviation, vehicle, and road-toll derogation covers only points (e) and (f).
repeals the 2022/30 category act from 11 December 2027, when the Cyber Resilience Act applies in full. RED surveillance continues for covered equipment placed from 1 August 2025 through 10 December 2027. Equipment first placed from 11 December 2027 needs a fresh Cyber Resilience Act and RED scope analysis.
Record whether the product communicates over the internet directly or through other equipment.
For Article 3(3)(e), document whether the product processes personal data, traffic data, or location data and whether it is childcare, toy, wearable, or internet-connected radio equipment.
For Article 3(3)(f), document whether the internet-connected radio equipment enables money, monetary value, or virtual-currency transfer.
Keep security design evidence, test evidence, threat analysis, residual-risk decisions, and release approvals with the RED technical file.
If EN 18031-1, EN 18031-2, or EN 18031-3 is used, record the applicable part and every OJEU notice or restriction rather than claiming unrestricted presumption of conformity.
Use the individual item's placing-on-the-market date: retain the RED cybersecurity evidence for covered equipment placed through 10 December 2027, and reassess the legal route for equipment first placed from 11 December 2027.
Repeals Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 from 11 December 2027 and preserves RED surveillance for covered equipment placed from 1 August 2025 through 10 December 2027.
repealed with effect from 11 December 2027
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Question 5
Which products need common-charger checks?
The common-charger review is needed for covered portable radio-equipment categories such as handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice, and portable navigation systems. The Commission page states that these requirements apply to those listed handheld categories since 28 December 2024 and to laptops as of 28 April 2026.
Check USB-C implementation, fast-charging interoperability, whether the product is offered with or without a charger, and whether the consumer label, pictogram, and written charging information are ready for the sales channel.
Identify whether the exact product category is listed and whether the device is rechargeable by wired charging.
Confirm USB-C charging-port implementation and fast-charging communication assumptions where applicable.
Maintain label and pictogram artwork, packaging proofs, web-sales copy, instructions, and charger-bundling decisions as evidence.
Use the laptop date separately from the handheld-device date; do not collapse both into one deadline.
Commission source for the listed device categories, USB-C common port, fast charging, charger unbundling, consumer information, and 28 December 2024 and 28 April 2026 application dates.
These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026
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Question 6
How should restrictions, labels, and instructions be documented?
If radio equipment is subject to restrictions on putting into service or requirements for authorisation of use in at least one Member State, Article 10(10) information must be presented on packaging and completed in the instructions. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1354 specifies the packaging presentation and instruction content for that information.
Record the restricted Member State or geographic area, the type of restriction or authorisation requirement, the packaging mark or wording used, the instruction-language handling, and the owner responsible for keeping the restriction table current.
Check spectrum-use restrictions before packaging release, marketplace upload, importer review, and country launch.
Keep the restriction table, packaging proof, instruction proof, translation record, and approval date together.
Update the record when the product's radio configuration, intended markets, or national restriction information changes.
Specifies how to present RED Article 10(10) restriction or authorisation information on packaging and in instructions.
Restrictions or Requirements in
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Question 7
Which RED evidence should be retained?
The evidence set should let a reviewer trace the answer from product fact pattern to RED requirement to conformity evidence. For manufacturers, RED requires technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity to be kept for 10 years after the radio equipment has been placed on the market.
Keep the scope memo, Article 3 matrix, standards list, test reports, cybersecurity assessment, common-charger evidence where applicable, labels and instructions, notified-body certificate where applicable, EU declaration of conformity, and release approval.
Use one technical-file index per radio equipment type and version so evidence matches the placed-on-market product.
Keep notified-body certificates, annexes, additions, and related technical documentation where Annex III or Annex IV routes are used.
Retain supplier declarations and module evidence only when they match the final product configuration and do not replace the manufacturer's own RED conformity decision.
Requires technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and retention of technical documentation and the declaration for 10 years after placing on the market.
for 10 years after the radio equipment has been placed on the market
Recommended next step
Review your RED FAQ answers against the technical file
This FAQ index helps align product scope, Article 3 mapping, cybersecurity review, common-charger checks, CE evidence, and supporting source references before release or importer review.
A broad compliance statement is hard to verify without the product, applicable article, standard, test, and intended market. Keep those details with the decision for design review, importer diligence, marketplace onboarding, or an authority request.
Do not treat Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, GNSS, RFID, or another radio technology as automatically low-risk; map the actual Article 3 requirements and standards.
Do not cite cybersecurity requirements without identifying the exact Article 3(3)(d), (e), or (f) trigger.
Do not use common-charger dates without separating listed handheld categories from laptops.
Do not rely on old test reports after antenna, enclosure, radio module, firmware, charging, accessory, supplier, or market changes.
Primary source for RED conformity duties and formal non-compliance issues such as missing or incorrect EU declarations, CE marking, technical documentation, or Article 10 information.
Primary RED legal text for scope, essential requirements, economic-operator duties, conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and technical documentation.
Primary RED legal text for scope, essential requirements, conformity assessment, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and technical documentation.
Defines RED subject matter, scope, radio equipment, making available on the market, placing on the market, and economic-operator obligations.
Show 3 more
Sets the Article 3 essential requirements and the technical-documentation expectation to list harmonised standards or alternative technical specifications.
Requires technical documentation, EU declaration of conformity, CE marking, and retention of technical documentation and the declaration for 10 years after placing on the market.
Primary source for RED conformity duties and formal non-compliance issues such as missing or incorrect EU declarations, CE marking, technical documentation, or Article 10 information.
"radio equipment"
More quoted passages
"making available on the market and putting into service"
"Essential requirements"
"for 10 years after the radio equipment has been placed on the market"
Defines when Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity-related requirements apply to internet-connected, data-processing, childcare, toy, wearable, and payment-capable radio equipment.
Activates Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity-related requirements for defined radio-equipment categories.
Defines which radio-equipment categories trigger Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity-related essential requirements.
Show 1 more
Supports checking cybersecurity applicability by exact product category and function rather than by a generic connected-device label.
Commission source for RED common-charger categories, USB-C, fast charging, charger unbundling, consumer information, and the 28 December 2024 and 28 April 2026 application dates.
Commission overview of RED common-charger categories, USB-C charging port, fast-charging interoperability, charger unbundling, consumer information, and application dates.
Commission source for the listed device categories, USB-C common port, fast charging, charger unbundling, consumer information, and 28 December 2024 and 28 April 2026 application dates.
"USB-C is the common port"
More quoted passages
"These requirements will also apply to laptops as of 28 April 2026"
Binding source for the 11 December 2027 repeal and continued RED surveillance of covered equipment placed during the preceding application interval.
Repeals Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 from 11 December 2027 and preserves RED surveillance for covered equipment placed from 1 August 2025 through 10 December 2027.