REDStandards

EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED) Harmonised Standards and Test Plans

Use standards to reduce ambiguity and to defend your CE evidence.

Output: requirements, standards, tests, and evidence mapping.

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Author

Sorena AI

Published

Feb 21, 2026

Updated

Feb 21, 2026

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Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata

Sorena AI

Published Feb 21, 2026

Updated Feb 21, 2026

Overview

Harmonised standards are the fastest way to build a defensible RED verification strategy, but only if you treat them as part of a controlled compliance system: you track the Official Journal references, document how you apply them, and keep test evidence retrievable per product variant.

Section 1

How presumption of conformity works under RED

When you apply harmonised standards whose references are published in the Official Journal (OJ), you can rely on a presumption of conformity for the requirements covered by those standards.

Presumption of conformity is not a free pass: you still need correct scope mapping, correct application, and test evidence.

Use OJ-listed references, not only an internal claim that you follow ETSI or Cenelec material
Document which clauses/parts you apply and why
Keep evidence: test reports, configurations, and variant coverage

Section 2

Where to find the current list of harmonised standards

The list changes over time (new standards added, references withdrawn, transitional periods).

Use the official EU Single Market harmonised standards page and the Commission Implementing Decisions for authoritative references.

Use the official harmonised standards page for radio equipment and track updates
Reference the latest Commission Implementing Decision(s) that publish OJ references
Treat updates as release-impacting events (retesting may be needed)

Section 3

Current OJ update sequence you should track

The main RED standards list sits in Decision (EU) 2022/2191, but the live compliance picture now depends on later amendments.

Use the decision chain, not a stale spreadsheet, when you decide which version gives presumption of conformity today.

Decision (EU) 2023/2392 updates several radio-spectrum standards and applies a deferred withdrawal from 4 Apr 2025
Decision (EU) 2023/2669 updates EN 50360 and EN 50566 for devices used next to the ear or close to the body, with deferred withdrawal from 1 Jun 2025
Decision (EU) 2025/138 adds EN 18031-1, EN 18031-2, and EN 18031-3 for RED cybersecurity, but with restrictions you must read carefully
Decision (EU) 2025/893 adds and revises more radio-spectrum standards and includes deferred dates of 15 Nov 2026 and 15 May 2028

Section 4

Build a requirements-to-standards matrix (the core compliance artifact)

A matrix prevents two common failures: missing requirements and duplicate testing.

Use one row per essential requirement and one column per evidence type (standard, test, document).

Article 3 mapping: safety/health, EMC, spectrum efficiency, and any activated additional requirements
Standards mapping: which standard(s) provide coverage and what product variants they apply to
Verification: test cases, lab setup, acceptance criteria, and firmware/configuration baseline
Evidence location: technical file sections + test report references

Section 5

Cybersecurity testing (when (EU) 2022/30 applies)

Cybersecurity under RED should be verified like other essential requirements: defined scope, defined methods, and retained evidence.

Avoid one-off penetration tests with no repeatability. Treat cybersecurity verification as a program tied to release cycles, and check the EN 18031 restrictions before claiming presumption of conformity.

Classify applicability: internet-connected, data-processing, value-transfer equipment categories
Define a cybersecurity verification plan: authentication, update mechanism, communications security, misuse scenarios
Keep repeatability: tool versions, configurations, and pass/fail criteria
Store evidence as a module in the technical documentation
For EN 18031-1, EN 18031-2, and EN 18031-3, read the restrictions in Decision (EU) 2025/138 before you rely on presumption of conformity

Section 6

When a notified body becomes relevant

If you cannot fully rely on harmonised standards coverage (or your product deviates materially), you may need additional assessment routes.

Plan this early - notified body lead times can affect your release schedule.

Decide early: do harmonised standards cover your essential requirements and your intended use?
If not, plan for EU-type examination or full quality assurance routes where applicable
Maintain an evidence pack that a notified body can review without rework

Recommended next step

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