WELCOME to EUROPEAN DIRECTIVES
The European Directives listed on this page are related to any industry that incorporates electrics or elctronics in its products or systems. This page gives you an overview of the relevant Directives, some recommended reading and direct access to the text of the Directives.
The information below is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
EMC – Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive
DIRECTIVE 2014/30/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electromagnetic compatibility (recast)…..See Text of Directive
All electric devices or installations influence each other when interconnected or close to each other, e.g. interference between TV sets, GSM handsets, radios and nearby washing machine or electrical power lines. The purpose of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is to keep all those side effects under reasonable control. EMC designates all the existing and future techniques and technologies for reducing disturbance and enhancing immunity.
The Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMCD) ensures that electrical and electronic equipment does not generate, or is not affected by, electromagnetic disturbance
UK Legislation – Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016
Recommended Reading
A Practical Guide to EMC Engineering
The book is a useful compendium of information covering all aspects of EMC with particular emphasis on practical issues of analysis, design and testing
Electromagnetic Compatibility
This book highlights principles and applications of EMC. The book provides effective solutions to practical engineering problems
Click here to see a list of the most commonly used EMC Standards
LVD – Low Voltage Directive [Electrical Safety]
Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits …….See Text of Directive
UK legislation – Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016
Recommended Reading
CE Marking for the Low Voltage Directive
In this volume, you get the complete text of the Low-Voltage Directive along with a step-by-step overview and explanation of the certification procedure
WEEE – Waste electrical and Electronic Equipment
Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) This Directive lays down measures to protect the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the adverse impacts of the generation and management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and by reducing overall impacts of resource use and improving the efficiency of such use…..See Text of Directive
UK Legislation – The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013 (as amended)
Recommended Reading
Management of Electronic Waste
Holistic view of the current and future trends in electronic waste management, focusing on recycling, technologies, and regulations
ROHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Directive 2011/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. This Directive lays down rules on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) with a view to contributing to the protection of human health and the environment, including the environmentally sound recovery and disposal of waste EEE. ……See Text of Directive
GB Legislation – Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2012 (as amended)
Recommended Reading
CE Marking – of Electrical & Electronic Products
This book gives a step-by-step approach to CE marking of electrical and electronic equipment including risk assessment. It covers, in detail, five important directives viz. LVD, EMC, MDD, RED and the RoHS directives by Chetan Kathalay (466pages)
RED – Radio Equipment Directive
Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment…..See text of Directive
Directive 2022/2380/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2014/53/EU on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment…..See Text of Directive
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/1717 of 27 June 2023 amending Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the technical specifications for the charging receptacle and charging communication protocol for all the categories or classes of radio equipment capable of being recharged by means of wired charging…..See text of Regulation
UK Legislation – Radio Equipment Regulations 2017
Recommended Reading
Step-by-step Radio Product Compliance
A practical guide for fulfilling the RED directive, Radio & EMC Testing – To introduce radio equipped devices requires an understanding of the regulations and compliance requirements which can appear somewhat overwhelming by Mr Fadi Ibrahim ( 488 pages )
R&TTE – Radio equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive
Directive 1999/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity. This Directive establishes the regulatory framework for the placing on the market, free movement and putting into service in the European Union (EU) of radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment. The aim of this Directive is to create an open and competitive single market. It also aims to ensure a high level of health and safety protection, and to avoid harmful interference.
DIRECTIVE 2014/53/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC….See Text of Directive
ATEX – Explosive Atmosphere Directives.
Directive 2014/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres…..See Text of Directive
UK Legislation – Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2016
Recommended Reading
ATEX―Explosive Atmospheres:
Risk Assessment, Control and Compliance – presenting general guidance on issues arising out of the EU ATEX legislation – especially on zone classification, explosion risk assessment, equipment categorization, Ex-marking and related technical/chemical aspects by Torben Jespen (209 pages)
Machinery Directive.
Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
on machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC…..See Text of Directive
REGULATION (EU) 2019/1243 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 June 2019 adapting a number of legal acts providing for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union amends Directive 2006/42/EC……See Text of Regulation
REGULATION (EU) 2023/1230 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 14 June 2023 on machinery and repealing Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 73/361/EEC….. See text of Regulation
UK Legislation – Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
Recommended Reading
Risk Assessments and Safe Machinery
Ensuring Compliance with the EU Directives This book describes the prerequisites for the placing on the market and the safe use of machinery in compliance with the relevant EU Directives, especially the Machinery Directive 2006/42. by Torben Jespen ( 267 pages )
MED – Marine Equipment Directive.
Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on marine equipment and repealing Council Directive 96/98/EC
This Directive shall apply to equipment placed or to be placed on board an EU ship and for which the approval of the flag State administration is required by the international instruments, regardless of whether the ship is situated in the Union at the time when it is fitted with the equipment…..See text of Directive
COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) 2021/1206 of 30 April 2021 amending Annex III to Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on marine equipment as regards the applicable standard for laboratories used by conformity assessment bodies for marine equipment….. See text of Directive
UK Legislation – UK marine equipment regulations
Recommended Reading
2023 International Conference on Marine Equipment & Technology and Sustainable Development
The papers cover a range of topics, including : marine machinery and transportation, marine ecology, environmental protection and conservation, marine safety, marine engineering, maritime policy, and global governance, by Desen Yang ( 1255 pages )
Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive
DIRECTIVE2007/47/EC of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and of the COUNCIL of 5 September 2007 amending Council Directive 90/385/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to active implantable medical devices, Council Directive 93/42/EEC concerning medical devices and Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market……See Text of Directive
REGULATION (EU) 2017/745 of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and of the COUNCIL of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC