The European commission says that the new Directive on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
electromagnetic compatibility – known as the EMC Directive – will
greatly simplify regulatory procedures and reduce costs for
manufacturers, while increasing information and documentation on
products for inspection authorities. It updates and replaces an
earlier Directive from 1989.
The law governs the electromagnetic emissions of electrical and
electronic equipment and their immunity to interference – basically
saying that products must not emit unwanted electromagnetic
pollution. Compliant products are identified by a CE logo of at
least five millimetres in height. (The letters CE may originally
have stood for Communauté Européenne – i.e. French for European
Community – but they are not defined and are only intended to be
recognisable as a symbol.)
The new Directive comes into force on 20th January 2005, but
Member States have until 20th January 2007 to implement it into
their domestic laws; and they have until 20th July 2007 to bring
its provisions into force.
The new law abolishes two cumbersome conformity assessment
procedures for producers which required the mandatory involvement
of an independent inspection and verification body, thus reducing
costs. Manufacturers will be solely responsible for establishing
the conformity of their products and for the CE marking.
Mr Günter Verheugen, Commission Vice-President in charge of
Enterprise and Industry, said: "The new directive underlines that
reducing the administrative burden for industry is a top priority
for the new Commission."
The new Directive also requires manufacturers or their agents to
provide inspection authorities with additional means of control,
such as clear identification of a product (type, serial number,
etc.) and indication of the name and address of the manufacturer or
his agent and, if necessary, of the importer established in the
territory of the European Union. This improved product traceability
will make it easier for the authorities to monitor the market. By
eliminating products for which it is difficult at the moment to
identify the origin, competition will be on a fairer basis.
The new regime will also provide a harmonised regulatory
framework for fixed installations, such as power plants, and for
distributed systems like telecommunications or power distribution
networks, which are often trans-European.
