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Annex 2 - Procedures for placing radio equipment in the UK market

Notification

The Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive (R& TTE Directive) was implemented in the United Kingdom on the 8th April 2000 through the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Regulations 2000, Statutory Instrument 2000 No.730. The Directive concerns radio equipment using frequency bands that are both harmonised and non-harmonised throughout the European Community. Should anyone wish to place equipment that uses non-harmonised frequency bands on the UK market, they must notify Ofcom at least four weeks before doing so.

Timing of the notification procedure

Ofcom considers the four-week period to begin on receipt of the notification and not when it is sent.

Acknowledgement of receipt of notification

E-mailed notifications will be automatically acknowledged. Should an e-mail fail to be sent in reply, Ofcom advise that the notification be re-sent.

For further details please see the “RTTE notifications form”

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/RTEE/rttenotification.rtf

Conformity assessment procedures

Manufacturers have the choice of the following conformity assessment routes;

Internal Production Control (available for TTE and receiving parts of radio equipment)

It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to assess their product against the requirements of the RTTE Directive, put together the technical documentation listed and to declare that the equipment complies with essential requirements.

Harmonised standards may be used at the choice of the manufacturer and where they are used they give the presumption of conformity.

Internal Production Control plus Specific Apparatus Tests (available for radio equipment only)

Following this route the manufacturer applies an applicable harmonised standard; if this harmonised standard does not contain the essential radio test suites the manufacturer needs to consult a notified body. It is then the responsibility of the manufacturer to have the identified radio suites carried out and to put together the technical documentation listed in Annex II of the RTTE Directive, and to declare that the equipment complies with the essential requirements.

The Technical Construction File (TCF) Route (available for both radio equipment and TTE )

The manufacturer presents a technical construction file to a notified body with regard to radio equipment. This file should consist of the technical documentation listed in Annex II of the RTTE Directive. In addition, for radio equipment the file must contain the results of the essential radio suite agreed previously with a notified body (as per Annex III ). The notified body then has 4 weeks to issue an opinion. After the manufacturer has received this opinion or after 4 weeks they are free to place the equipment on to the market.

The Full Quality Assurance Route (available for both radio equipment and TTE )

Following this route the manufacturer must operate an approved quality system for design, manufacture, final product inspection and testing which has been assessed by a notified body with regard to radio equipment.

The important thing to remember with any of the above routes is that it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure their products comply and declare accordingly.

ETSI

The European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) is a European standards-making body, which drafts and publishes European Telecommunication Standards (ETS). It also publishes ETSI Technical Reports ( ETR ) on background issues of related interest.

ETSI was set up in 1988 on the joint initiative of the European Commission and the European Postal and Telecommunication Conference (CEPT), to set common telecommunication standards to aid the development of European communication systems.

ETSI consists of:

• The General Assembly (GA), its main governing body
• The Board, a body that act on behalf of the General Assembly between General Assembly meetings
• Technical Organisation produces and approves technical standards. It encompasses ETSI Projects (EP's), Technical Committee’s (TCs) and Special Committees.
• The Secretariat, which deals with administration and technical management.
• The R& TTE Directive adds a new role for ETSI in preparing candidate harmonised radio standards for radio equipment and systems. The concept of “type approval” is replaced by a manufacturer's declaration of compliance with the essential requirements of the Directive

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