RED Guide update - 2026

2026 Update to the
"Guide to the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU"

• Original Edition: 19 May 2017
  
  
• First Major Revision: 19 December 2018 
  
  
• Latest Comprehensive Revision: 2026 (Updated to provide practical guidance and consensus interpretations following the application of RED Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f) cybersecurity requirements that became mandatory on 1 August 2025).
  
  
• Supplementary Guidance: RED AdCo published additional cybersecurity guidance on 11 February 2026 to support compliance with the RED cybersecurity Delegated Regulation.

Key updates highlighted in the 2026 RED Guide include:

1. Cybersecurity Realignment (Regulation (EU) 2026/339)

The most significant regulatory development is the alignment of RED cybersecurity provisions with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

• On 16 February 2026, the European Commission adopted Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/339, repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30. [eur-lex.europa.eu]

• The purpose is to prevent overlapping cybersecurity requirements between RED and the CRA. [eur-lex.europa.eu], [webgate.ec.europa.eu]

• The repeal takes effect on 11 December 2027, the date on which the CRA becomes fully applicable. Until 11 December 2027, radio equipment within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 must continue to comply with the RED cybersecurity requirements under Article 3(3)(d), (e), and (f). [eur-lex.europa.eu]

2. Update on Reconfigurable Radio Systems

The Commission's earlier work on software-reconfigurable radio systems remains under consideration. Cybersecurity-related aspects originally considered under the initiative have largely been addressed through the CRA framework, helping to avoid duplication between RED and horizontal cybersecurity legislation. 

3. Compliance and Market Surveillance Clarifications

• Where a RED conformity assessment procedure requires third-party involvement, only certificates or opinions issued by a designated RED Notified Body satisfy that requirement. Supporting test reports from other organizations may still form part of the technical documentation. [redca.eu], [single-mar....europa.eu]

• The Common Charger initiative continues to progress under the RED framework, extending USB Type-C charging requirements to additional product categories, including laptops within scope.

REF:

RED Guide (2026)

[eur-lex.europa.eu]

[redca.eu] 

[single-mar....europa.eu]

Europe Radio Equipment Cybersecurity update

On January 30, 2025, EN 18031-1, -2 and -3 were listed in the Official Journal of the European Union thus now harmonized to give "presumption of conformity" with the essential requirements set out under articles 3.3 d, e, and f, of the Radio Equipment Directive, however with some conditions and limitations.

These standards where originally released on September 2, 2024.

EN 18031-1:2024 (Common security requirements for radio equipment - Part 1: Internet connected radio equipment)

EN 18031-2:2024 (Common security requirements for radio equipment - Part 2: radio equipment processing data, namely Internet connected radio equipment, childcare radio equipment, toys radio equipment and wearable radio equipment)

EN 18031-3:2024 (Common security requirements for radio equipment - Part 3: Internet connected radio equipment processing virtual money or monetary value)

It's important to note that these are framework standards defining common security requirements and assessment methods, not test standards.

 REF:

 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30

Document 32025D0138 

 

EU Pulling the plug on e-waste

The European Commission is putting forward legislation to establish a common charging solution for electronic devices, with the revision of the Radio Equipment Directive.

With this new proposal to revise the Radio Equipment Directive, the European Commission is declaring a uniform and harmonized charging port for devices. USB type C is to be that common port. The Commission also proposes harmonized fast charging technology to ensure that charging speed is the same when using any compatible charger. Further, the Commission proposes to unbundle the sale of chargers from the sale of devices. Consumers will purchase new electronic devices without a new charger.

This new proposal will need adoption by the European Parliament and council. A transition period of 24 months from the date of adoption is proposed.

REF:

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_4613

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_21_4614

https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46754

Cybersecurity risks bring new European regulations

 Cybersecurity risks to personal privacy, fraud, and the security of the open internet are of paramount concern for our interconnected, digitally dependent world, and the European Union is among the first economies to enact wide-reaching legislation to address the growing concerns of cybersecurity risks. 

Significant changes are coming concerning regulations and requirements for equipment covered by the EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU). To say significant may be an understatement. In today’s connected world virtually all personal electronics we use today are impacted by the changes coming one way or another, and most of them on the market would not meet these higher standards today.

Breakdown of the new requirements

1. New delegated regulation and activation of additional Radio Equipment Directive essential requirements for certain categories or classes of specific types of radio equipment.
1. Covering aspects of cybersecurity and internet-connected radio equipment, key points on the essential requirements are addressed.
1. Protection from harm to the network - Art 3.3(d)
2. protection of personal data, the privacy of users and subscribers - Art 3.3(e)
3. protection from fraud- Art 3.3(f)
2. Applicable to new categories or classes of equipment which are;
1. All Internet-connected radio equipment
2. Childcare radio equipment (internet-connected or not)
3. Toys with radio functionality (internet-connected or not)
4. Wearable electronics (internet-connected or not)
3. Internet-connected means capable of communication over the internet, directly or indirectly such as using an intermediary, an example of which is a cell phone.
4. Specific medical radio equipment and in vitro diagnostic medical devices falling under regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 respectively, already have requirements to address these elements of cybersecurity and therefore are excluded from these new Radio Equipment Directive categories or classes.
5. Regulations related to Vehicles, Civil Aviation, and electronic road toll systems address some elements of cybersecurity related to Art 3.3(e) and Art 3.3(f) and are therefore excluded from the Radio Equipment Directives requirements on these aspects.
2. The exact technical requirements for compliance with these essential requirements are not defined at this time. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) shall prepare a work program indicating the standards and a timetable for implementation. A draft is expected 2 months after notification of the delegated regulation.
3. The new regulations shall apply 30 months after entry into force which is estimated to be around April 2024

Instructions for US Stakeholders wishing to submit comments on these new requirements

How to Comment  

Please limit comments to the draft Delegated Act only.

REF:

Draft Delegated Act

EU Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks

The European Union Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks operating in the 5945-6425 MHz (6 GHz WAS/RLAN) band has been published in the EU Official Journal.

REF:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/1067/oj

 

European Union - Internet connected and wearable radio equipment

Update - European Union - Report for the initiative on "internet connected radio equipment and wearable radio equipment" can be found here.

Radio Equipment Directive Standards update

February 6, 2020 - New  Harmonised Standards published in the Official Journal of the European Union with reference to the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU / RED

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2020.034.01.0046.01.ENG&toc=OJ:L:2020:034:TOC

New EU EMC and Radio Standards lists published

EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) Harmonized Standards A new list of EMC Directive (2014/30/EU) Harmonized Standards has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This is the first update in two years. You can find a link to the updated lists on our web site at; https://celectronics.com/certification/europe/ Summary    EN 12895:2015 - New EN 16361:2013+A1:2016  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 50121-3-1:2017  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 50121-3-2:2016  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 50121-4:2016  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 50121-5:2017  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 50270:2015  - Mandatory by  Nov. 30, 2018 EN 61000-6-5:2015    New

RED (2014/53/EU) Harmonized Standards No major changes from previous list. One note is EN 301 893 V2.1.1 clause 4.2.7 is the only option with regard to adaptivity. Again you can find a link to the updated lists at; https://celectronics.com/certification/europe/

5 Questions on the new Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU (RED)

Coming into force on June 13, 2016, and half way through the transition period, the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU replaces the Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R&TTED)  1995/5/EC and over the past few months I've received numerous questions regarding the transition to the new directive. This isn't an all inclusive list or a full transition guide, far from it, I recommend that you consult a RED Notified Body with your specific needs for that. 

Here are the 5 most common questions I receive.

"Do I need to apply the new directive immediately?"

No, the RED came into force on June 13th 2016, however, article 48 gives a transitional provision accepting the old directive for radio equipment covered by the RED until June 12, 2017. That is to say you must apply the RED to covered radio equipment on or after June 13th 2017.

"Should I start testing to the new directive now?"

I get this a lot, and it's a very common misconception. One does not simply "test" to a Directive, you declare compliance to the Directive. 

The directive contains the essential requirements of compliance, among other laws, governing the "making available on the market" of Radio Equipment. Testing is one method for demonstrating compliance with the essential requirements, but the actual test methods are found outside the directive, referred to as "Harmonised Standards" under the directive. 

While in order to use a "Harmonised Standard" for presumption of conformity, it must be published with reference to the RED in the Official Journal, the new directive doesn't change harmonized standards, but it may impose new "essential" requirements that could impact your testing.

"Can I start "declaring" compliance to the new directive?"

Probably not. Article 17 of the RED describes the conformity assessment procedures. There are three annexes describing the available methods. (Annex II Internal Product Control) (Annex III EU-type examination) and (Annex IV Full Quality Assurance).

By far Internal Production Control is the most commonly used conformity assessment method and it's the only method that does not require 3rd party involvement of a Notified Body, but in order to apply Annex II, you must test in full to published harmonized standards. The problem is that the list of harmonized standards published under the new RED is small compared to the R&TTE. Chances are at the moment the particular harmonized standard previously applied has not been adapted and referenced to the RED, but the list is growing. See https://celectronics.com/certification/europe/ for links to the published harmonized standards.

Another issue here is that there is a change, however so slightly, in the requirements from the R&TTE article 3.2. This small change adds a new requirement to be assessed, and that is that the Radio Equipment "supports the efficient use of radio spectrum". New technical standards will need to incorporate this requirement.

"If I can't test in full to published harmonized standards, is there a method to comply with the RED now?"

Yes, there are a couple as mentioned above, Annex III EU-Type examination and Annex IV Full Quality Assurance. Of the two, EU type examination would generally be the most practical for most organisations that don't have the ability or wish to submit to a full quality assurance assessment or the continued surveillance required of that system.

EU-Type examination is a method by which the manufacturer submits an application to a "single" Notified Body of their choice. The Notified Body will review the technical design and verify the equipment complies with the essential requirements of the RED and if so issue an EU-Type examination certificate. This would be combined with the manufacturer's own assessment and the Declaration of Conformity (which will include the Notified Body number). The manufacturer would then affix the CE mark to the equipment (without including the Notified Body number)

 “If I test to the current harmonized standards for the R&TTE and write my declaration to the R&TTE now, what do I need to do June 13th, 2017?”

On or after June 13th 2017, all equipment that falls within the scope of the RED must be assessed to be in compliance with the RED prior to placing on the market in the European Union. This does not apply to equipment already on the market (sold or in the EU), only new shipments being placed on the market. The declaration of conformity must follow the new Model Structure and the manufacturer shall also establish the required technical documentation described in Article 21 of the RED. Also note that in addition to the technical test report the manufacturer is required to provide a risk assessment within their technical documentation.

European CE marking

EU has published the updated 'Blue Guide' on the implementation of EU product rules 2016. This is in advance of the coming into force of updated directives.

Directive Transition dates;

• EMC Directive 2014/30/EU – April 20, 2016
• Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU – April 20, 2016
• Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU – June 12, 2016

You can find links to these directives and additional information on CE marking at http://celectronics.com/certification/europe/