EMC electromagnetic compatibility certification

Introduction to EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 2014/30/EU

The purpose of the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) directive is to ensure that electronic and electrical equipment:

Normal operation, not affected by electromagnetic interference released by other devices; And it will not generate electromagnetic energy that may interfere with the safe operation of other devices.

Like other EU directives, the EMC directive establishes broad requirements ("essential requirements") related to electromagnetic compatibility of electronic and electrical equipment, and provides detailed technical specifications based on published standards. The European Commission regularly publishes a catalogue of standards, which can serve as an evaluation basis for determining whether a product meets the basic requirements of the directive. At the same time, the Commission also updates the catalogue regularly to incorporate the latest applicable standards in a timely manner.

On March 29, 2014, the European Commission issued several directives to recast the CE mark to comply with the Commission's new legislative framework (NLF). Under the new legislative framework, operators can provide a single Declaration of Conformity for each product, and the labeling and traceability requirements for various products are the same.

The updated EMC directive is numbered 2014/30/EU and came into effect on April 18, 2014. The old EMC Directive 2004/108/EC was abolished on April 20, 2016.

The products covered by the new directive include new products launched in the EU market, as well as products supplied in different forms, including remote sales products. But it is not suitable for specially designed evaluation kits that can only be used for research and development facilities alone.

Distributors must make reasonable transitional arrangements to place order products (i.e. inventory equipment already provided to the distribution chain) on the market before this Directive (2014/30/EU) completely replaces the old Directive (2004/108/EC).

The new directive clearly states the obligations and responsibilities of various operators, including producers, authorized representatives, distributors, importers, and their respective representatives of related products, in the supply and sales chain.

The new directive establishes detailed regulations for the notification of Conformity Assessment Bodies. It specifies in detail all the requirements and obligations of the notified institution. It also specifies in detail all requirements, obligations, applications, changes, operations, appeals, and mutual coordination of notified bodies.

The new directive specifically mentions that for certain basic requirements, manufacturers can choose to reduce the application for conformity assessment procedures through internal production control methods (Attachment 2). For other basic requirements, type conformity assessment can be conducted based on internal production control methods (Attachment 3) and according to the EU type inspection procedures.

The new directive also includes new requirements in the technical document:

-Design concepts and manufacturing images, as well as component schemes, sub components, principles, etc;

-Necessary descriptions and explanations to understand those images and schemes, as well as to comprehend the operation of the device

Manufacturers should affix the CE mark on each individual device to meet the appropriate requirements of this directive. Manufacturers should also develop a written EU compliance statement for equipment models. When the device has been launched on the market, this statement should be kept together with the technical documentation. Until 10 years later, it can be disposed of through national level institutions.

The official form of non-compliance is also listed in the new directive. The new directive states that any member state should require relevant economic operators to rectify non-compliance, or that relevant member states should take all appropriate measures to restrict or prohibit equipment already available on the market, or ensure that their equipment is recalled or withdrawn from the market.

Each member state should establish relevant penalty rules that are suitable for adoption by operators who violate national laws and regulations. Each member state should take all necessary measures to ensure the enforcement of penalty rules. These penalty rules may include criminal penalties for serious violations.