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Selling electrical and electronic products in the EU

In the EU, electrical and electronic products are CE marked against the Directives that apply: the Low Voltage Directive for electrical safety, the EMC Directive, and the Radio Equipment Directive for radio devices, which also sets the USB-C common charger. RoHS restricts hazardous substances, WEEE sets marking and producer registration, and batteries follow Regulation (EU) 2023/1542.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Electrical safety
LVD 2014/35/EU, 50 to 1000 V AC and 75 to 1500 V DC
Interference
EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
Radio equipment
RED 2014/53/EU, with the USB-C common charger
Substances
RoHS 2011/65/EU, ten restricted substances
End of life
WEEE 2012/19/EU marking and national producer registers
Batteries
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, applying from 18 February 2024

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Which Directives apply, and has the manufacturer carried out conformity assessment and drawn up the technical documentation and declaration? Read more
  2. 2Is it radio equipment, and do the common charger rules apply to it? Read more
  3. 3Does it meet the RoHS restrictions, or rely on an exemption? Read more
  4. 4Is it marked with the WEEE symbol, and is the producer registered in each member state of sale? Read more
  5. 5Does it contain or come with batteries? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Electrical safety, EMC and CE marking

The safety and electromagnetic compatibility rules, and the evidence behind the CE marking.

  • The Low Voltage Directive covers health and safety risks of electrical equipment with an input or output voltage of 50 to 1000 V AC or 75 to 1500 V DC, such as household appliances, cables, power supply units, laser equipment and certain components.
  • The Commission's LVD page refers consumer goods below 50 V AC or 75 V DC to the general product safety rules.
  • Under the LVD, the manufacturer carries out the conformity assessment and draws up the technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity, then affixes the CE marking; no notified body is required.
  • The manufacturer keeps the technical documentation and declaration for 10 years, marks a type, batch or serial number and its name and postal address, and provides instructions and safety information in a language easily understood by consumers, as determined by the member state (Article 6).
  • The EMC Directive 2014/30/EU limits electromagnetic emissions so that equipment does not disturb radio, telecommunication or other equipment, and governs its immunity to interference.
  • Only harmonised standards whose references are published in the Official Journal give a presumption of conformity under the LVD.
  • Voluntary certificates from bodies not acting as notified bodies are not a recognised means of proving compliance, and have no value in checks by market surveillance authorities or customs.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the technical documentation, test reports and declaration of conformity with each product, and shows what is missing before it ships. Ask about this

Radio equipment and the common charger

Devices that transmit or receive radio, and the charging rules.

  • The Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU sets essential requirements for safety and health, electromagnetic compatibility and efficient use of the radio spectrum, and has applied since 13 June 2016.
  • Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 on cybersecurity, personal data and privacy for certain radio equipment applied from August 2025; it is repealed from 11 December 2027, when the main obligations of the Cyber Resilience Act apply.
  • Under Directive (EU) 2022/2380, the common charger rules have applied since 28 December 2024 to handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld videogame consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems, and since 28 April 2026 to laptops.
  • USB-C is the common port, fast charging is harmonised, consumers can buy a device without a charger, and producers give information on charging characteristics, with a pictogram and label.
  • Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 sets ecodesign requirements for external power supplies, applying from 14 December 2028.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your packaging and charging information against the common charger rules and keeps the radio equipment file with the product. Ask about this

Restricted substances (RoHS)

Hazardous substances restricted in electrical and electronic equipment.

  • The RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU restricts ten substances: lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP.
  • Products with an electrical and electronic component, unless specifically excluded, have to comply with these restrictions.
  • Exemptions are listed in Annexes III and IV and are amended by Commission Delegated Directives.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your suppliers' RoHS declarations and test reports against the restricted list and the exemptions you rely on, and shows which expire. Ask about this

WEEE: marking and producer registration

Separate collection of electrical waste, and what producers do.

  • The WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU requires separate collection and proper treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment, and sets collection, recovery and recycling targets.
  • Producers mark equipment with the symbol in Annex IX, preferably following EN 50419; where size or function require it, the symbol goes on the packaging, the instructions and the warranty (Article 14).
  • Each member state keeps a register of producers; producers selling at a distance register in the member state they sell to, or through an authorised representative (Article 16).
  • Member states may require producers to show purchasers the cost of collection, treatment and disposal at the time of sale.

How we help: Compliant Always records the member states where each product is registered, with the registration numbers and reports behind them. Ask about this

Batteries

Batteries sold on their own or built into products.

  • Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 has been in force since 17 August 2023 and applies from 18 February 2024, to batteries sold separately or incorporated into products or vehicles.
  • It covers five categories: portable, light means of transport, electric vehicle, industrial, and starting, lighting and ignition batteries.
  • It sets binding requirements for sustainability, safety, labelling, supply chain due diligence and end-of-life management.
  • Article 11 sets removability and replaceability requirements for portable batteries incorporated in products, with derogations in Article 11(2).
  • The earlier Batteries Directive was repealed in 2025 by the Regulation.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps your battery suppliers' documents with each product that contains their batteries, and watches the delegated acts for new duties. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
ManufacturerConformity assessment, technical documentation, the declaration, CE marking, identification, instructions and corrective action.The technical file kept with each product, for the 10 years it is needed.
ImporterEquipment it brings into the EU, and its own obligations under the Directives.Suppliers' files read and dated before the goods arrive.
Producer under WEEEMarking, registration in each member state of sale and reporting.Registrations and reports recorded by member state.
Component and battery supplierRoHS declarations and battery information for the parts it supplies.Declarations collected once and shown to each customer that asks.

Member states

The Directives are applied through national law, and national authorities enforce them. Producers register for WEEE in each member state where they sell, and each member state sets the language of instructions and safety information.

Questions businesses ask

Which EU rules apply to electrical products?
Usually the Low Voltage Directive and the EMC Directive, or the Radio Equipment Directive for radio devices, each with CE marking. RoHS, WEEE and, where batteries are involved, Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 apply too.
Does electrical equipment need a notified body under the LVD?
No. Under the LVD the manufacturer alone determines compliance by carrying out the conformity assessment procedure.
Are voluntary certificates accepted as proof of compliance?
No. Certificates from bodies not acting as notified bodies are not a recognised means of proving compliance and have no value in checks by market surveillance authorities or customs.
Do I need USB-C on my device in the EU?
For handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, portable speakers, handheld consoles, e-readers, earbuds, keyboards, mice and portable navigation systems, since 28 December 2024, and laptops since 28 April 2026.
Must a device be sold with a charger?
No. Under the common charger rules consumers can buy a device without a charger, and a pictogram shows whether one is included.
What substances does RoHS restrict?
Lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP, unless an exemption in Annex III or IV applies.
Do I need to register as a WEEE producer?
Yes, in each member state where you sell. Producers selling at a distance register in the member state they sell to, or through an authorised representative.
What marking does WEEE require?
The symbol in Annex IX to the WEEE Directive, preferably following EN 50419, on the product, or on the packaging, instructions and warranty where its size or function require it.
Which rules apply to batteries in the EU?
Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, applying from 18 February 2024 to batteries sold separately or built into products. It sets requirements on sustainability, safety, labelling, due diligence and end of life.
How long must technical documentation be kept?
Under the LVD, 10 years after the equipment is placed on the market, together with the EU declaration of conformity.
Which rules apply to low-voltage gadgets below 50 V?
The Commission's LVD page refers consumer goods below 50 V AC or 75 V DC to the general product safety rules. RoHS still applies to products with an electrical and electronic component, unless specifically excluded.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in the EU?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

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