Subject Area

The Directive applies to radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment.
 
Intention of Legislation

The Directive aims to remove barriers to trade within the European Economic Area (EEA) (EU countries plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland) whilst ensuring that relevant products meet certain minimum essential requirements concerning health and safety, electromagnetic interference and radio spectrum matters.

The Directive is a total harmonisation Directive (i.e. no additional national approval requirements can be placed on equipment). It allows the free movement of Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment within its scope, unless Member States have a justified reason to bar these from their markets. The Directive removes prior market access controls on products. Manufacturers self-declare compliance with the requirements of the Directive, though there is provision for Notified Bodies to be involved in the conformity/process for Radio Equipment.

It should be noted that the Directive does not replace national requirements in Member States for transmitters to comply with national radio interface specifications and to be licensed.
 
Brief History

The RTTE Directive was published in the Official Journal, ref. L 91 dated 7 April 1999, and has applied since 8 April 2000. All transitional provisions ended on 8 April 2001.

A copy of the Directive can be downloaded from the Commission website in PDF format (124 kb).

The Directive liberalises the regulations governing the approvals regimes for Radio and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment. It replaces both the earlier pan-European approvals regime for Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (under Directive 98/13/EC) and national type approval regimes for Radio Equipment.

UK Legislation

The Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Regulations 2000 (SI 2000 No.730) were published on 13 March 2000. The regulations transpose the provisions of the Directive into UK law. A copy is available from the OPSI web site.

The Regulations were amended by The Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No.1903) that were published on 21 July 2003. A copy is available from OPSI.

The Regulations were further amended by The Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (Amendment No 2) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003 No.3144) that were published on 5 December 2003. A copy is available from OPSI.

Enforcement

The UK regulations are enforced -

In Great Britain by

• The Office of Communications (Ofcom) that has responsibility where enforcement relates to the protection and management of the radio spectrum and;
• Local trading standards departments within their area

In Northern Ireland by

• Ofcom that has responsibility where enforcement relates to the protection and management of the radio spectrum and;
• The district councils within their area

RTTE Forum

The DTI's RTTE Forum (previously known as TAPC) provides for the two way exchange of information between the Department and industry on matters related to the Directive. The List of Members will tell you who represents your trade body. The contact point for the RTTE Forum is Kevin Lane:
Email: kevin.lane@dti.gsi.gov.uk, Tel: 0207 215 1774, Fax: 0207 215 1529.

TCAM

The Telecommunications Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance Committee (TCAM) is composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by a representative of the European Commission.  The purpose of TCAM is to assist the Commission in making decisions regarding interpretation of the Directive and to act as an information exchange for Member States. Decisions on the interpretation of the Directive can be found on the Commission's website.

Further information related to the operation of the Directive can also be found there.

Latest Developments

Air Traffic Management Equipment

In accordance with Article 1.4 and Annex 1.6 of the RTTE Directive 1999/5/EC, Air-traffic-management (ATM) equipment and systems within the meaning of Article 1 of Council Directive 93/65/EEC of 19 July 1993 is currently not covered by the RTTE Directive but is subject to Type Examination under the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC.

On 20 October 2005, as a result of the repeal of Directive 93/65/EEC by Regulation (EC) No 552/2004 of 10 March 2004 on the interoperability of the European Air Traffic Management network, the RTTE Directive exclusion will cease to apply. Accordingly, from that date, such ATM equipment will no longer be subject to Type Examination under the EMC Directive and will be covered by the RTTE Directive unless the equipment is amongst the "Products, appliances and components" within the meaning of Article 2 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 which continue to be excluded under Annex 1.5 of the R&TTE Directive.

In general, this means that ATM ground-based radio equipment will be subject to the RTTE Directive from 20 October 2005. Interoperability aspects will continue to be covered by Regulation 522/2004.

The RTTE Directive regulatory committee (TCAM) has produced a guidance document for manufacturers and importers of ATM equipment.

Other useful links

• Our links/other sites page.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the RTTE Directive can be found on our publications page.
  The FAQs will be updated from time to time to take account of regulatory developments as they occur.
• Further information is available from the European Commission on the DG Enterprise web site, the Electronic Communications Committee; ETSI, and the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
  Member state operators' information on services and interfaces - links to websites of Member states and documents
• Information on other New Approach directives
• A list of UK notified bodies appointment under the RTTE Directive can be found on our publications page.
• A Guide to the appointment of Notified Bodies can be found on our publications page.

Contact E-mail: kevin.lane@dti.gsi.gov.uk, Tel: 020 7215 1774, Fax: 020 7215 1340.