language: en · last checked: 2026-09-06

Essential requirements and presumption of conformity

The Article 3 essential requirements — health and safety, EMC, efficient spectrum use, and the activated Article 3(3) delegated requirements (common charging, and the (d)/(e)/(f) network-protection, privacy and fraud requirements applying to internet-connected equipment) — plus the common-charging specifications of Annex Ia (USB-C).

Article 3 — Essential requirements

Verbatim from EUR-Lex (Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) 02014L0053-20260530), via the Publications Office Cellar API.

• (a) the protection of health and safety of persons and of domestic animals and the protection of property, including the objectives with respect to safety requirements set out in Directive 2014/35/EU, but with no voltage limit applying;
• (b) an adequate level of electromagnetic compatibility as set out in Directive 2014/30/EU.

• (a) radio equipment interworks with accessories other than the charging devices for the categories or classes of radio equipment, specified in Part I of Annex Ia, which are specifically referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article;
• (b) radio equipment interworks via networks with other radio equipment;
• (c) radio equipment can be connected to interfaces of the appropriate type throughout the Union;
• (d) radio equipment does not harm the network or its functioning nor misuse network resources, thereby causing an unacceptable degradation of service;
• (e) radio equipment incorporates safeguards to ensure that the personal data and privacy of the user and of the subscriber are protected;
• (f) radio equipment supports certain features ensuring protection from fraud;
• (g) radio equipment supports certain features ensuring access to emergency services;
• (h) radio equipment supports certain features in order to facilitate its use by users with a disability;
• (i) radio equipment supports certain features in order to ensure that software can only be loaded into the radio equipment where the compliance of the combination of the radio equipment and software has been demonstrated.

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 44 specifying which categories or classes of radio equipment are concerned by each of the requirements set out in points (a) to (i) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph.

With respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means of wired charging, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 44 to amend Part I of Annex Ia in the light of scientific and technological progress or market developments in order to ensure a minimum common interoperability between radio equipment and its charging devices, as well as to improve consumer convenience, to reduce environmental waste and to avoid market fragmentation, by:

• (a) modifying, adding or removing categories or classes of radio equipment;
• (b) modifying, adding or removing technical specifications, including references and descriptions, in relation to the charging receptacle(s) and charging communication protocol(s), for each category or class of radio equipment concerned. The Commission shall continuously assess market developments, market fragmentation and technological progress with a view to identifying categories or classes of radio equipment capable of being recharged by means of wired charging for which the inclusion in Part I of Annex Ia would lead to significant consumer convenience and reduction of environmental waste.

The Commission shall submit a report on the assessment referred to in the third subparagraph to the European Parliament and to the Council, for the first time by 28 December 2025 and every 5 years thereafter, and shall adopt delegated acts pursuant to the second subparagraph, point (a), accordingly.

With respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means other than wired charging, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 44 in order to amend Part I of Annex Ia in the light of scientific and technological progress or market developments in order to ensure a minimum common interoperability between radio equipment and its charging devices, as well as to improve consumer convenience, to reduce environmental waste and to avoid market fragmentation, by:

• (a) introducing, modifying, adding or removing categories or classes of radio equipment;
• (b) introducing, modifying, adding or removing technical specifications, including references and descriptions, in relation to charging interface(s) and charging communication protocol(s), for each category or class of radio equipment concerned. The Commission shall, in accordance with Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, and by 28 December 2024, request one or more European standardisation organisations to draft harmonised standards laying down technical specifications for the charging interface(s) and charging communication protocol(s) for radio equipment capable of being recharged by means other than wired charging. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, the Commission shall consult the committee set up under Article 45(1) of this Directive. The requirements as to the content of the requested harmonised standards shall be based on an assessment carried out by the Commission of the current state of wireless charging technologies for radio equipment, covering in particular market developments, market penetration, market fragmentation, technological performance, interoperability, energy efficiency and charging performance.

When preparing the delegated acts referred to in this Article with respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means of wired charging, as well as with respect to radio equipment capable of being recharged by means other than wired charging, the Commission shall take into account the degree of market acceptance of the technical specifications under consideration, the resulting consumer convenience and the extent of the reduction of environmental waste and market fragmentation that can be expected from such technical specifications. Technical specifications that are based on relevant available European or international standards shall be deemed to meet the objectives set out in the previous sentence. However, where such European or international standards do not exist, or where the Commission determines, based on its technical assessment, that they do not meet those objectives in an optimal manner, the Commission may set out other technical specifications which better meet those objectives.

Article 3a

Verbatim from EUR-Lex (Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) 02014L0053-20260530), via the Publications Office Cellar API.

Possibility for consumers and other end-users to acquire certain categories or classes of radio equipment without a charging device

• 1. Where an economic operator offers to consumers and other end-users the possibility to acquire the radio equipment referred to in Article 3(4) together with a charging device, the economic operator shall also offer the consumers and other end-users the possibility of acquiring that radio equipment without any charging device.
• 2. Economic operators shall ensure that the information on whether or not a charging device is included with the radio equipment referred to in Article 3(4) is displayed in a graphic form using a user-friendly and easily accessible pictogram as set out in Part III of Annex Ia when such radio equipment is made available to consumers and other end-users. The pictogram shall be printed on the packaging or affixed to the packaging as a sticker. When the radio equipment is made available to consumers and other end-users, the pictogram shall be displayed in a visible and legible manner and, in the case of distance selling, close to the price indication. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 44 in order to amend Part III of Annex Ia as a consequence of amendments to Parts I and II of that Annex, or as a consequence of future amendments to labelling requirements, or in the light of technological progress, by introducing, modifying, adding or removing any graphic or textual elements.

Article 16 — Presumption of conformity of radio equipment

Verbatim from EUR-Lex (Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) 02014L0053-20260530), via the Publications Office Cellar API.

Radio equipment which is in conformity with harmonised standards or parts thereof the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union shall be presumed to be in conformity with the essential requirements set out in Article 3 covered by those standards or parts thereof.

ANNEX Ia — SPECIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO CHARGING APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN CATEGORIES OR CLASSES OF RADIO EQUIPMENT

Verbatim from EUR-Lex (Directive 2014/53/EU (RED) 02014L0053-20260530), via the Publications Office Cellar API.

Part I

Specifications relating to charging capabilities

1. The requirements set out in points 2 and 3 of this Part shall apply to the following categories or classes of radio equipment:

• 1.1. handheld mobile phones;
• 1.2. tablets;
• 1.3. digital cameras;
• 1.4. headphones;
• 1.5. headsets;
• 1.6. handheld videogame consoles;
• 1.7. portable speakers;
• 1.8. e-readers;
• 1.9. keyboards;
• 1.10. mice;
• 1.11. portable navigation systems;
• 1.12. earbuds;
• 1.13. laptops.

2. In so far as they are capable of being recharged by means of wired charging, the categories or classes of radio equipment referred to in point 1 of this Part shall:

• 2.1. be equipped with the USB Type-C receptacle, as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-3: Common components – USB Type-C® Cable and Connector Specification’, and that receptacle shall remain accessible and operational at all times;
• 2.2. be capable of being charged with cables which comply with the standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-3: Common components – USB Type-C® Cable and Connector Specification’.

3. In so far as they are capable of being recharged by means of wired charging at voltages higher than 5 Volts, currents higher than 3 Amperes or powers higher than 15 Watts, the categories or classes of radio equipment referred to in point 1 of this Part shall:

• 3.1. incorporate the USB Power Delivery, as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-2: Common components – USB Power Delivery specification’;
• 3.2. ensure that any additional charging protocol allows for the full functionality of the USB Power Delivery referred to in point 3.1, irrespective of the charging device used. Part II

Information on specifications relating to charging capabilities and the compatible charging devices

In the case of radio equipment falling within the scope of Article 3(4), first subparagraph, the following information shall be indicated in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 10(8), and may be made available in addition by means of QR codes or similar electronic solutions:

• (a) in the case of all categories or classes of radio equipment which are subject to the requirements set out in Part I, a description of the power requirements of the wired charging devices that can be used with that radio equipment, including the minimum power required to charge the radio equipment, and the maximum power required to charge the radio equipment at the maximum charging speed expressed in Watts by displaying the text: ‘the power delivered by the charger must be between min [xx] Watts required by the radio equipment, and max [yy] Watts in order to achieve the maximum charging speed’. The number of Watts shall express, respectively, the minimum power required by the radio equipment, and the maximum power required by the radio equipment to achieve the maximum charging speed;
• (b) in the case of radio equipment which is subject to the requirements set out in point 3 of Part I, a description of the specifications relating to charging capabilities of the radio equipment, in so far as it is capable of being recharged by means of wired charging at voltages higher than 5 Volts or currents higher than 3 Amperes or powers higher than 15 Watts, including an indication that the radio equipment supports the USB Power Delivery charging protocol by displaying the text ‘USB PD fast charging’ and an indication of any other supported charging protocol by displaying its name in text format. Part III

Pictogram indicating whether or not a charging device is included with the radio equipment

1. The pictogram shall have the following formats:

• 1.1. If a charging device is included with the radio equipment:
• 1.2. If no charging device is included with the radio equipment:

2. The pictogram may vary in appearance (e.g. as to its colour, solid or hollow, line thickness), provided that it remains visible and legible. If the pictogram is reduced or enlarged, the proportions set out in the drawings in point 1 of this Part shall be maintained. The dimension ‘a’ referred to in point 1 of this Part shall be greater than or equal to 7 mm, irrespective of the variation.

Part IV

Content and format of the label

1. The label shall have the following format:

2. The letters ‘XX’ shall be replaced by the figure corresponding to the minimum power required by the radio equipment to charge, which determines the minimum power that a charging device needs to supply to charge the radio equipment. The letters ‘YY’ shall be replaced by the figure corresponding to the maximum power required by the radio equipment to achieve maximum charging speed, which determines the power that a charging device needs to supply at least to achieve that maximum charging speed. The abbreviation ‘USB PD’ (USB Power Delivery) shall be displayed if the radio equipment supports that charging communication protocol. ‘USB PD’ is a protocol that negotiates the fastest delivery of current from the charging device to the radio equipment without shortening the battery lifetime.

3. The label may vary in appearance (e.g. as to its colour, solid or hollow, line thickness), provided that it remains visible and legible. If the label is reduced or enlarged, the proportions set out in the drawing in point 1 of this Part shall be maintained. The dimension ‘a’ referred to in point 1 of this Part shall be greater than or equal to 7 mm, irrespective of the variation.

Sources

• EUR-Lex — Directive 2014/53/EU (RED), consolidated text

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