EU Pulling the plug on e-waste

The European Commission is putting forward legislation to establish a common charging solution for electronic devices, with the revision of the Radio Equipment Directive.

With this new proposal to revise the Radio Equipment Directive, the European Commission is declaring a uniform and harmonized charging port for devices. USB type C is to be that common port. The Commission also proposes harmonized fast charging technology to ensure that charging speed is the same when using any compatible charger. Further, the Commission proposes to unbundle the sale of chargers from the sale of devices. Consumers will purchase new electronic devices without a new charger.

This new proposal will need adoption by the European Parliament and council. A transition period of 24 months from the date of adoption is proposed.

REF:

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_4613

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_21_4614

https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46754

United Kingdom Conformity Assessment Mark (UKCA) deferred

The UK government announced August 24, 2021 that you may continue to use the CE marking for goods place on the market in Great Britain until January 2023. The UKCA marking may be used now, however, from January 1, 2023 the UKCA marking will be mandatory. 

REF:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/placing-manufactured-goods-on-the-market-in-great-britain 

U.S. FCC, cyber security standards and guidelines

US Federal Communication Commission is seeking comments for building cyber security into the equipment authorization program through standards and guidelines.  

Commenting period open until September 20, 2021, reply comments are due before October 18, 2021.

 

REF:

ET Docket No. 21–232, EA Docket No. 21– 233; FCC 21–73; FRID 39556

Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through the Equipment Authorization Program and the Competitive Bidding Program

Cybersecurity risks bring new European regulations

 Cybersecurity risks to personal privacy, fraud, and the security of the open internet are of paramount concern for our interconnected, digitally dependent world, and the European Union is among the first economies to enact wide-reaching legislation to address the growing concerns of cybersecurity risks. 

Significant changes are coming concerning regulations and requirements for equipment covered by the EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED 2014/53/EU). To say significant may be an understatement. In today’s connected world virtually all personal electronics we use today are impacted by the changes coming one way or another, and most of them on the market would not meet these higher standards today.

Breakdown of the new requirements

1. New delegated regulation and activation of additional Radio Equipment Directive essential requirements for certain categories or classes of specific types of radio equipment.
1. Covering aspects of cybersecurity and internet-connected radio equipment, key points on the essential requirements are addressed.
1. Protection from harm to the network - Art 3.3(d)
2. protection of personal data, the privacy of users and subscribers - Art 3.3(e)
3. protection from fraud- Art 3.3(f)
2. Applicable to new categories or classes of equipment which are;
1. All Internet-connected radio equipment
2. Childcare radio equipment (internet-connected or not)
3. Toys with radio functionality (internet-connected or not)
4. Wearable electronics (internet-connected or not)
3. Internet-connected means capable of communication over the internet, directly or indirectly such as using an intermediary, an example of which is a cell phone.
4. Specific medical radio equipment and in vitro diagnostic medical devices falling under regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 respectively, already have requirements to address these elements of cybersecurity and therefore are excluded from these new Radio Equipment Directive categories or classes.
5. Regulations related to Vehicles, Civil Aviation, and electronic road toll systems address some elements of cybersecurity related to Art 3.3(e) and Art 3.3(f) and are therefore excluded from the Radio Equipment Directives requirements on these aspects.
2. The exact technical requirements for compliance with these essential requirements are not defined at this time. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) shall prepare a work program indicating the standards and a timetable for implementation. A draft is expected 2 months after notification of the delegated regulation.
3. The new regulations shall apply 30 months after entry into force which is estimated to be around April 2024

Instructions for US Stakeholders wishing to submit comments on these new requirements

How to Comment  

Please limit comments to the draft Delegated Act only.

REF:

Draft Delegated Act

EU Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks

The European Union Commission Decision on Wireless Access Systems / Radio Local Area Networks operating in the 5945-6425 MHz (6 GHz WAS/RLAN) band has been published in the EU Official Journal.

REF:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/1067/oj

 

FCC proposes ban on equipment authorizations for devices deemed to pose a threat to national security

 

June 17, 2021 – U.S. Federal Communications Commission proposes rules that would prohibit all future authorizations for communications equipment deemed to pose a national security risk.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks comment on the proposal to prohibit all future authorizations of communications equipment that has been determined to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security, as identified on the “Covered List” published by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. This proposal will prohibit authorization of listed equipment through either the FCC’s Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) or Certification authorization methods.

Furthermore, the FCC seeks comments on whether it should revoke prior authorizations for any equipment on the “Covered List” and if so by what procedures should be used.

As of this writing, the “Covered List” includes Huawei Technologies Company, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, and Dahua Technology Company.

REF:

Press Release:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-373363A1.pdf

FCC EDOCS:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/equipment-authorization-and-competitive-bidding-supply-chain-nprm

ET Docket No. 21-232 and EA Docket No. 21-233:

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-622A1.pdf

“Covered List”
https://www.fcc.gov/supplychain/coveredlist

EN 55024 date of withdrawal set

Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/455 published March 16, 2021, has set the date of withdrawal of EN 55024 (immunity for Information Technology Equipment) to Sept. 16, 2022. EN 55024 has been superseded by EN 55035 (immunity for Multimedia Equipment).

This publication also sets the date of withdrawal for EN 55103-2 (immunity for Professional Entertainment Lighting and Control), to July 28, 2022.

The date of withdrawal of a European EN is the date by which all superseded standards are withdrawn and cease to give presumption of conformity.

 REF:  

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2021/455/oj

ANSI C63.10 2020 Published

 

The American National Standard of Procedures for Compliance Testing of Unlicensed Wireless Devices, IEEE/ANSI C63.10 2020, has been published.

ANSI C63.10 is the U.S. consensus standard covering methods and instrumentation and test facilities requirements for measurement of radio frequency (RF) signals and noise emitted from unlicensed wireless devices (also called unlicensed transmitters, intentional radiators, and license-exempt transmitters) operating in the frequency range 9 kHz to 231 GHz.

At the time of this 2020 version publication, January 29, 2021, the version accepted by the FCC for wireless certification remains ANSI C63.10 2013, effective from July 13, 2016. The new version must first be incorporated by reference within the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47, §2.910. Publication will often come with a reasonable transition period as defined in §2.950.

Ref:

IEEE/ANSI C63.10-2020

History of C3.10

Subpart J—Equipment Authorization Procedures

IEC 60601-1-2 Edition 4.1

September 2020, the EMC Standard for medical devices, IEC 60601-1-2 edition 4.1, has been published. Added to the FDA recognized consensus standards on December 21, 2020 with partial recognition. 

The FDA has designated a 3 year transition period, after which the previous version will not be accepted- REC#19-8 (IEC 60601-1-2:ed4.0 + ANSI AAMI IEC 60601-1-2:2014).

New testing requirements include 

• Testing at minimum and maximum input voltage levels for conducted emissions and voltage dips and short interruptions
• Power frequency magnetic field at either 50 or 60 Hz so long as the frequency is the same as that used to power the equipment
• A new technical reference standard has been added IEC 61000-4-39:2017 
• Magnetic field immunity testing requirements from 9 kHz to 13.56 MHz 

Some of the normative references have been updated to reflect new versions of older base standards updating requirements for emissions and surge and voltage dips. Removal of ISO 7137:1995 procedures for airborne equipment.

The standard includes guidance on the determination of immunity levels and adjustments according to implemented mitigations and intended use. Identification of pass/fail and guidance on risk management for basic safety and essential performance related to electromagnetic compatibility. 

REF:

FDA FR Recognition Number 19-36  http://bit.ly/60601-1-2ed4-1