Radio &Telecommunication (R&TTE) Directive

The R&TTE Directive (1999/5/EC) has been mandatory since 08.Apr. 2000 and the TTE Directive (98/13/EC) became accordingly invalid after one year's transition period. This new directive has the following main points:
Not only the telecommunications terminal equipment connected to public telephone telecommunications network but also radio equipment are in the scope of this directive.

· As for wired equipment connected to the network, manufacturers can do self-declaration, if they comply with the essential requirements and prepare the Declaration of Conformity.

· X-mark (hockey stick mark), which manufacturers had to attach with CE Marking on their products according to the old Directive, is not necessary any more. Neither is ID number of a notified body necessary for the equipment connected to the network nor on which CE marking is attached by self-declaration of the customer.

· Manufacturer must attach a CE-marking and in most cases an ID number of a notified body on radio equipment, but X-mark is not required anymore.

· If there is a harmonized standard for radio equipment, additional national approval is not required. A notified body must conduct tests or review TCF in certain cases.

The basic requirements of this directive are:

1. Telecommunications terminal equipment and radio equipment must fulfil the requirements of low voltage directive and EMC directive.

2. Efficient spectrum usage for Radio equipment The other requirements have not been regulated yet. The procedure of the evaluation of conformity is regulated as Annex II to V, the manufacturers can choose the one which fits for their product.

Conformity Assessment

By this change of the directive, the evaluation of conformity became easier for the manufacturers, and therefore reducing their cost and time to get an approval. However the products which do not comply with the requirements can also enter the market, and this might cause the confusion among consumers. On the other hand manufacturers bear all responsibilities and reliability for the products. Therefore it is getting necessary for the manufacturers to certify that their products fulfill its function normally also in the countries where they are exported.