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FAQEU

RED FAQ Receivers and transmitters

Directive 2014/53/EU covers electrical or electronic products that intentionally emit or receive for or , including products that need an accessory such as an antenna to do so.

This FAQ explains the scope test for receiver-only products, transmitters, products completed by antennas or software, and common cases that fall outside RED because the radio function is absent, excluded, or used for another purpose.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
May 9, 2026
Updated
Oct 15, 2026
4 sections3 primary sources
Overview

Receivers and transmitters are in RED scope when the product intentionally emits and/or receives for or . The same test can cover receiver-only equipment, transmitter-only equipment, transceivers, and products that must be completed with an accessory such as an antenna before they can perform the radio function.

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4 of 4 questions
Question 1

Which receivers and transmitters are covered by the Radio Equipment Directive?

A product is under Directive 2014/53/EU if it is an electrical or electronic product that intentionally emits and/or receives for or . The definition also covers an electrical or electronic product that must be completed with an accessory, such as an antenna, so it can intentionally emit or receive radio waves for those purposes.

That means the RED scope question is not limited to two-way radios. A receiver-only product can be in scope if its intended function is or , and a transmitter or transceiver is in scope when it intentionally uses for those purposes. The Commission RED Guide identifies pure television and sound broadcasting receivers as products that remained within RED scope when RED replaced the older R&TTE framework.

  • Include transmitter-only, receiver-only, and transmit/receive equipment when the intended radio function is communication or .
  • Include products that must be completed with an accessory, such as an antenna, before they can intentionally emit or receive for the intended function. Record software separately when it enables or configures that function, but do not replace the Article 2 accessory test with a software-only rule.
  • Do not treat every electromagnetic product as RED equipment; the must be used for or .
  • After the scope answer is yes, map the product to Article 3 requirements, applicable or other technical specifications, conformity assessment, user information, and technical documentation.

Are receiver-only products covered by the Directive?

Yes, if the receiver is an electrical or electronic product that intentionally receives for or . The RED Guide treats pure television and sound broadcasting receivers as examples that remain within RED scope.

Are products that need an antenna covered before the accessory is fitted?

They can be. Article 2 covers an electrical or electronic product that must be completed with an accessory, such as an antenna, so it can intentionally emit or receive for or . The scope record should identify that accessory and separately identify any software or configuration needed for the intended radio function.

Question 2

What is outside RED receiver and transmitter scope?

A product is not brought into RED scope merely because it involves electromagnetic phenomena. The Commission RED Guide says products that use electromagnetic waves exclusively for purposes other than or are not covered by RED, and gives pure wireless power transfer without communication or radiodetermination as an example. Unintended emissions and immunity characteristics are not intentional radio functions; other EU electromagnetic-compatibility rules may still apply.

RED also has explicit exclusions. Annex I excludes certain radio amateur equipment that is not made available on the market, marine equipment within the listed marine-equipment regime, specified aviation equipment within Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 and intended exclusively for airborne use, subject to the additional unmanned-aircraft conditions in Annex I(3), and custom-built evaluation kits destined for professionals for use solely at research and development facilities.

  • Exclude electromagnetic products only where the intended use is not or .
  • Check Annex I before relying on an exclusion for amateur radio, marine, airborne, or custom-built professional R&D evaluation equipment.
  • For mixed products, separate the assessment from non-radio functions instead of using one broad product label.
Question 3

Evidence to keep for a receiver or transmitter scope decision

The technical file should show why the product was treated as RED or why it was excluded. Keep the scope decision close to the product description, intended use, radio technology, frequency information, accessory and software dependencies, and any exclusion analysis.

Once the product is in scope, Article 3 evidence should be organized around the applicable essential requirements. Annex V technical documentation includes a general description of the , relevant software or firmware versions, user information and installation instructions, design and circuit information, standards or other technical specifications used, EU declaration, notified-body certificate where applicable, design calculations and examinations, test reports, and the Article 10(2) and 10(10) explanations where relevant.

  • Record whether the product emits, receives, or both, and whether the function is , , or neither.
  • Identify the involved as electromagnetic waves below 3 000 GHz propagated in space without artificial guide.
  • List antennas, software, firmware, modules, accessories, or configurations needed for the intended radio function.
  • Keep the Article 3 matrix, standards list, test reports, EU declaration of conformity, and notified-body evidence where the selected conformity route requires it.
  • Revisit the scope record when the radio function, antenna, firmware, intended use, market configuration, harmonised standard, or exclusion basis changes.
Recommended next step

Review a receiver or transmitter scope call

Check whether the product intentionally emits or receives radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, then connect the RED scope answer to Article 3 evidence, standards, conformity assessment, and technical documentation.

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Question 4

Common mistakes when classifying receivers and transmitters

Apply the Article 2 definition instead of relying on a familiar product category. RED scope turns on the intentional emission or reception of for or , not on labels such as smart device, sensor, accessory, module, or consumer electronics.

A second mistake is stopping after the scope answer. If the receiver or transmitter is in scope, the compliance file still needs the Article 3 requirements, applicable standards or other specifications, conformity assessment route, user information, EU declaration, CE marking, and technical documentation that match the exact type.

  • Do not exclude receiver-only equipment just because it does not transmit.
  • Do not include pure wireless power transfer or other electromagnetic uses unless the product also uses for communication or .
  • Do not rely on a module or component claim without checking the final product configuration and intended use.
  • Do not cite a harmonised standard as full RED coverage unless the standard, OJEU citation, product configuration, and covered Article 3 requirement all line up.
Primary sources

References and citations

Directive 2014/53/EU on radio equipment
eur-lex.europa.eu5 citations
Referenced sections
  • Primary legal source for the Article 2 radio-equipment definition, Annex I exclusions, Article 3 essential requirements, and Annex V technical-documentation contents.
  • Article 2 defines radio equipment by intentional emission or reception of radio waves for radio communication or radiodetermination, including products completed with an accessory such as an antenna.
  • Annex I lists radio equipment categories excluded from Directive 2014/53/EU scope.
Show 2 more
  • Annex V lists the technical documentation elements used to evidence RED conformity for the radio equipment type.
  • Article 2 is the binding scope test for receiver-only, transmitter-only, and transceiver products.
"intentionally emits and/or receives radio waves"
More quoted passages
"EQUIPMENT NOT COVERED BY THIS DIRECTIVE"
"CONTENTS OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION"
European Commission RED Guide
ec.europa.eu5 citations
Referenced sections
  • Commission guidance used for receiver examples, products completed by accessories, non-radio electromagnetic uses, and practical scope interpretation under RED.
  • Commission guidance explaining the RED definition, receiver examples, accessory-completed products, and products that use electromagnetic waves for non-radio purposes.
  • Commission guidance distinguishing RED radio functions from products that use electromagnetic waves exclusively for other purposes.
Show 2 more
  • Commission guidance that harmonised standards can provide presumption of conformity where their references are published in the OJEU, and that other means require technical justification.
  • Commission guidance supporting receiver examples, non-radio electromagnetic exclusions, and accessory-completed radio equipment analysis.
"What is radio equipment?"
More quoted passages
"exclusively for other purposes"
"presumption of conformity"
"pure television and sound broadcasting receivers"
European Commission - harmonised standards for radio equipment
single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu
Referenced sections
  • Commission page for RED harmonised standards and the summary of OJEU-published references that can support presumption of conformity for covered requirements.
"Summary list of titles and references of harmonised standards"

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