The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2014/30/EU is one of the key pieces of legislation that governs the placement of electrical and electronic equipment on the European market.
Its purpose is to ensure that equipment does not generate electromagnetic disturbances or is not adversely affected by them.
It’s also one of several directives that fall under the umbrella of the CE marking requirements.
For most electrical and electronic products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA), demonstrating compliance with the EMC Directive is a mandatory part of the CE marking process.
This guide explains what the EMC Directive covers, who it applies to, what testing and documentation are required, and how to demonstrate full compliance to support CE marking.
You can download the full version of the EMC Directive here.
What is the EMC Directive, and which equipment does it apply to?
The EMC Directive is a European regulation that ensures the electromagnetic compatibility of electrical and electronic equipment.
It applies to both apparatus (finished, market-ready products) and fixed installations (permanently installed equipment within a defined site).
The directive has two core objectives:
- To prevent electrical and electronic equipment from generating electromagnetic disturbances that interfere with telecommunications, radio, and other equipment.
- To ensure that equipment is immune to electromagnetic interference, so it can operate reliably in its intended environment.
The EMC Directive applies to the majority of mains- or battery-powered products. However, it does not apply to subassemblies or components that do not have an intrinsic function (e.g. they are only functional when part of a larger system).
Some categories are also regulated by separate directives, including:
- Medical devices
- Communication equipment
- Road and agricultural vehicles
- Military equipment
Who’s responsible for EMC compliance?
Manufacturers are primarily responsible for ensuring products meet the EMC requirements. However, importers and distributors also have legal obligations.
Importers must ensure products carry the CE mark and are accompanied by appropriate documentation.
Distributors must verify that products are correctly labelled and compliant before placing them on the market.
All economic operators must cooperate with national authorities to provide access to conformity documentation and assist in corrective actions if needed.
Who enforces EMC, and what are the penalties for non-compliance?
In the UK, the EMC Directive is implemented through the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2016. Enforcement authorities, such as Trading Standards and Ofcom, oversee compliance.
Penalties for non-compliance can include:
- A fine of up to £5,000
- Imprisonment for up to three months
- Mandatory recall or withdrawal of non-compliant products from the market
Find out more in the UK Government’s statutory guidance here.
How do you carry out testing against the EMC Directive?
To demonstrate EMC Directive conformity, manufacturers must test their equipment for both electromagnetic emissions and immunity.
There are five key assessment classes, each targeting specific risks:
- Radiated emissions: Ensures the equipment does not emit disruptive radio signals.
- Conducted emissions: Ensures signals are not unintentionally transmitted via supply or connection lines.
- Radiated susceptibility: Checks the equipment’s ability to function in a standard electromagnetic environment.
- Conducted susceptibility: Verifies that equipment remains functional when subjected to interference through power or signal connections.
- Electrostatic discharge: Tests the product’s resistance to static discharge during normal handling or operation.
Before testing begins, manufacturers must ensure the equipment is:
- Fully assembled and functional
- Connected to its usual operating systems
- Running in normal production mode
- Energised with any required DC or RF power sources
In some cases, where product design or performance requires it, manufacturers may voluntarily engage a Notified Body to carry out EMC assessments. While this is not mandatory under the EMC Directive, it can help de-risk compliance for more complex or high-stakes products.
What documentation do you need?
Under the EMC Directive, manufacturers are required to establish technical documentation that demonstrates the conformity of their equipment with the directive's essential requirements.
This documentation must be sufficiently detailed to allow for the assessment of the product's compliance and should encompass all relevant aspects of design, manufacture, and operation.
The technical documentation should include:
- A general description of the equipment
- Design and manufacturing drawings, along with schemes of components, sub-assemblies, and circuits
- Explanations are necessary for understanding the drawings and the operation of the equipment
- A list of harmonised standards applied in full or in part, and where these standards have not been applied, descriptions of the solutions adopted to meet the essential requirements
- Results of design calculations, examinations carried out, etc
The manufacturer must keep this documentation for 10 years after the equipment is placed on the market and should make it available to the competent national authorities upon request.
It's important to note that while the EMC Directive allows manufacturers to self-assess their products, involving a Notified Body can be beneficial, especially for complex products or when harmonised standards are not fully applied.
A Notified Body can provide an independent assessment of the technical documentation and the conformity of the product.
How does EMC fit into CE marking regulations?
Many electrical and electronic products placed on the European market fall under more than one EU directive.
While the EMC Directive ensures electromagnetic compatibility, it doesn’t cover all safety or performance aspects of a product.
For example, equipment may also fall under the Low Voltage Directive or the Machinery Directive, as well as EMC.
In these cases, the manufacturer must:
- Identify all applicable directives based on the product type, intended use, and environment
- Ensure the product meets the essential requirements of each directive, which may include safety, energy efficiency, or hazardous substance restrictions
- Compile a single technical file that covers the conformity assessment evidence for all applicable directives
- Draft a single Declaration of Conformity (DoC) that references each relevant directive and harmonised standard
- Affix the CE mark, which symbolises compliance with all relevant EU legislation, not just one
Note that, the CE mark does not indicate conformity with a single directive. It represents compliance with all EU legislation applicable to the product.
Download our free guide here for more information on complying with CE regulations.
Comply with the EMC Directive with total confidence
Our start-to-finish EMC testing service for large and medium-sized capital equipment covers every step of the process, from testing against relevant measures to compiling your technical documentation and addressing remedial actions.
See our EMC testing service page here to learn more.
