Electric and electronic equipment is always transmitting electromagnetic interference that can disturb other equipment or systems. These disturbances can be slight, momentary functional disorders but they can also lead to functional disability or even to destruction of the equipment.

In 1989 the directive 89/336/EEC for regulations concerning electromagnetic compatibility (EMC directive) was adopted to introduce protective measures against this problem.Through this directive the safe and reliable operation of electronic equipment is insured by protecting it from interference from other equipment as well as defining interference levels under which the equipment must still operate reliably. As all other directives, this directive does not stipulate specific limit values but defines the principal protection requirements, i.e. the essential requirements.

According to article 10 of the EMC directive, three conformity assessment procedures are specified:

Article 10 (1)describes the procedure for devices to which the manufacturer has applied harmonized standards
Article 10 (2) describes the procedure for devices to which the manufacturer has not applied the standards, or has applied them only in part or could not apply them for absence of standards.
Article 10 (5) describes the specific procedure for devices designed for the transmission of radio-communications.

Conformity assessment procedure according to the EMC directive

Basic Information for the R&TTE Directive

Annex I
Equipment excluded from R&TTE Directive:
· Examples: Non-Commercial Amateur Radio, Cables, Receive-only equipment for TV and Sound Broadcasting

Annex II
· Telecommunications terminal equipment that does not make use of the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space.
· Radio communication and receiving parts of radio equipment.
Module A Internal Production Control -
· Manufacturer assures production compliance
· Voluntary certification
· Voluntary test by accredited test laboratory
· Technical product documentation is established by the manufacturer and kept at the disposal of the relevant authorities.

Annex III
Where the Manufacturer has applied harmonized standards and where the radio equipment makes use of the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication.
Internal production control as stated for Annex II plus specific apparatus tests:
· As Annex II plus for each type of apparatus, the manufacturer must carry out all essential radio test suites.
Or on his behalf:
· The identification of the test suites that are considered to be essential is the responsibility of a notified body chosen by the manufacturer except where the test suites are defined in the harmonized standards.

Annex IV
Where a manufacturer has not applied or has only applied in part the harmonized standards radio equipment makes use of the spectrum allocated to terrestrial/space radio communication.
Annex III plus additional requirements:
· The technical documentation mentioned in Annex II and the declaration of conformity to specific radio test suites described in Annex III must form a technical construction file.
· A Notified Body reviews the TCF.

Annex V
· Full quality assurance
· Notified Body assesses the Quality System
· Manufacturer assures production compliance
· Voluntary certification