Statutory guidance

Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024

Updated 19 December 2024

Guidance on the regulations as they apply to radio equipment being placed on the market in Northern Ireland.

1. Introduction

This Guidance is for businesses placing radio equipment on the market in Northern Ireland (“NI”) having regard to the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024, which comes into force on 28 December 2024 and implements Directive (EU) 2022/2380 – the Common Charger Directive – in NI.

(EU) 2022/2380 amends the Radio Equipment Directive and introduces new requirements for certain categories of electrical/electronic devices. ^{[footnote 1]}

These new requirements include: a common charging solution based on USB-C, harmonised fast charging technology, the ‘unbundling’ of the sale of a charger with the sale of the device, meaning consumers have the choice to purchase a device without a new charger, and the provision to consumers of visual and written information about the charging characteristics of the device, including the power the device requires and whether it supports fast charging.

This guidance sets out how businesses placing radio equipment on the market in NI can comply with the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024.

Many manufacturers have already moved to a common charger solution based on USB-C in order to continue to supply the EU market ahead of the new requirements coming into force, and will therefore already likely be in compliance. Industry has told the Government they are highly likely to adopt similar measures for devices supplied to the whole of the UK in order to avoid supply chain complexity. Government considers that standardised chargers for mobile phones and other portable electronic devices would potentially help businesses and consumers and reduce electronic waste. Accordingly, Government has sought views through a Call for Evidence to help assess the potential for introducing similar measures across the UK ^{[footnote 2]} which will inform our final position and the detail of any potential secondary legislation.

2. Legislative background

Directive (EU) 2022/2380, which was adopted by the EU on 23 November 2022, applies to all EU Member States from 28 December 2024. In particular, the new requirements will apply to those specified categories of electrical/electronic devices placed on the EU market on or after 28 December 2024 with the exception of laptops, for which the new requirements will apply from 28 April 2026. In accordance with the terms of the Windsor Framework, which provides for NI’s access to the EU Single Market for goods, Directive (EU) 2022/2380 will apply in NI. The Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024 therefore amend the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1206) in order to implement Directive (EU) 2022/2380 in NI and to enable it to be legally enforced.

3. Scope

The Regulations apply to the following categories of radio equipment that are capable of being recharged by wired charging: handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems and earbuds, which are placed on the market on or after 28 December 2024. They will apply to laptops capable of being recharged with wired charging which are placed on the market on or after 28 April 2026. The Regulations collectively refer to these categories of radio equipment as “common charger radio equipment”.

For common charger radio equipment placed on the NI market from 28 December 2024 (and 28 April 2026 for laptops), manufacturers, importers and distributors will have to ensure compliance with the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024.

Common charger radio equipment which has already been placed on the market before 28 December 2024 (or 28 April 2026 for laptops), will be unaffected.

4. Complying with the Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024

When placing common charger radio equipment on the NI market from 28 December 2024 (and 28 April 2026 for laptops), manufacturers need to ensure that devices are equipped with a USB-C charging receptacle and that devices that support fast charging use harmonised fast charging technology.

Manufacturers, importers and distributors need to ensure consumers are provided with the option of purchasing common charger radio equipment without a new charging device (the external power supply part of chargers).

Manufacturers, importers and distributors will need to ensure that common charger radio equipment is accompanied with additional visual and written information regarding charging characteristics, compatible charging devices and whether or not a charging device is included.

USB-C charging receptacle

The Regulations require that common charger radio equipment be equipped with a USB Type C receptacle which must remain accessible and operational at all times and meet standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-3: Common components – USB Type C Cable and Connector Specification’ (as referenced in Annex Ia of Directive (EU) 2022/2380) and updated in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717. ^{[footnote 3]}

The requirements of the Regulations do not extend to the charging cable, but the USB Type C receptacle must be capable of being charged with cables which comply with standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022. If the charger has a detachable charging cable, it may be in the interest of the customer that the manufacturer supplies an appropriately rated charging cable with the equipment. This is a decision for the manufacturer.

The use of other receptacles is not prohibited as long as the common charger radio equipment is also equipped with the USB-C receptacle as described in standard EN IEC 62680-1-3:2022.

Harmonised fast-charging

The Regulations require that common charger radio equipment that support fast charging use harmonised fast charging technology. This means that for fast charging, if the common charger radio equipment can be recharged by means of wired charging at voltages higher than 5 volts, currents higher than 3 amperes or powers higher than 15 watts, it must: (a) incorporate the USB Power Delivery (USB PD), as described in the standard EN IEC 62680-1-2:2022 ‘Universal serial bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-2: Common components – USB Power Delivery specification; and (b) allow for the full functionality of the USB PD if it incorporates any additional charging protocol, irrespective of the charging device used. ^{[footnote 3]}

Ensuring consumers are provided with the option of purchasing a relevant device without a new charging device

The Regulations require that where a charging device (that is, the external power supply part of the charger) is offered with common charger radio equipment, then manufacturers, importers and distributors must also offer the customer the opportunity to purchase the equipment without a charging device. Consumers will therefore be able to purchase the equipment without a new charging device.

Manufacturers, importers and distributors are still able to offer consumers the opportunity to purchase common charger radio equipment with a charging device – but only if they also offer the same product without a charging device.

When common charger radio equipment is offered for sale without a charging device, there is no obligation to also offer the same equipment with a charging device.

Providing additional visual and written information for consumers

Manufacturers must ensure that information on common charger radio equipment’s charging capabilities and compatible charging devices as set out in Schedule 1A of the Regulations is included in the instructions. This must include information on the power that the device requires; and whether it supports the harmonised fast charging protocol USB PD.

Manufacturers, importers and distributors must also ensure:

• A ‘pictogram’ indicating whether a charger is or is not included with the common charger radio equipment is printed on the packaging or affixed to the packaging as a sticker. The pictogram should be displayed in a visible and legible manner and, in the case of distance selling, close to the price indication. Both pictogram versions can be found at:

  • High resolution – charger not included
  • High resolution – charger Included
• A ‘label’ providing information on the power that the common charger radio equipment requires, and whether it supports the harmonised fast charging protocol USB PD is displayed/supplied with the equipment.

• The label must be: (a) in the format set out in Schedule 1B of the Regulations; (b) displayed in a visible and legible manner and, in the case of distance selling, close to the price indication and (c) printed on the instructions and on the packaging or affixed to the packaging as a sticker, or where there is no packaging, affixed to the equipment itself. Where the size of the equipment does not allow the label to be printed on or affixed to the packaging or affixed to the equipment itself, it must be printed as a separate document accompanying the equipment. The label can be found at:

  • High resolution – graphic label

Refurbished goods

The new requirements will only apply to common charger radio equipment (whether new or ‘used’) that is placed on the market on or after the date(s) of applicability (28 December 2024 for such equipment, except laptops which is 28 April 2026). Products already placed on the market before these dates would not be subject to the new requirements if subsequently refurbished.

However, where refurbishment of a product involves important changes or overhaul such that it would be considered a ‘new’ product (for example where refurbishment modifies the performance, purpose, or type of product without this being foreseen in the original risk assessment), then the requirements under the Regulations would apply to those new products if they are placed on the market on or after the date(s) of applicability. And in such circumstances, the person carrying out the modification would be treated as a manufacturer and subject to the manufacturer’s obligations.

5. Offences and enforcement

The Regulations widen the scope of existing offences under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 and create a new offence in relation to a breach of the requirement to offer consumers the choice to purchase common charger radio equipment without a charger, including the requirement that the equipment is accompanied by visual information showing whether a charging device is included or not. Offences include those for failing to comply with new essential requirements with respect to common charger radio equipment and associated information and labelling requirements, as well as for contravening or failing to comply with a withdrawal or recall notice.

Enforcement authorities will continue to take a proportionate approach to compliance and enforcement activities for the Regulations. In the great majority of cases we expect, as now, that working with and supporting businesses to understand their obligations will result in compliance without recourse to the use of penalties. The use of penalties is anticipated only where there is deliberate or sustained non-compliance, after engagement with enforcement authorities, or where there are product safety risks.

6. Qualifying Northern Ireland Goods

Under the Government’s commitment to providing unfettered access for qualifying NI goods to the rest of the UK market, qualifying electrical/electronic devices that meet the requirements of the Regulations in order to be placed on the market in NI can also be made available in the rest of the UK.

7. Footnotes

1. Directive (EU) 2022/2380 can be found at (EU) 2022/2380. European Commission Guidance on interpreting (EU) 2022/2380 can be found at Guidance on interpreting the Common Charger Directive. ↩

2. The Government sought views in a Call for Evidence on the introduction across the UK of a common charger for mobile phones and other portable electrical and electronic devices: Common charger for electrical devices: call for evidence. ↩

3. The Commission has updated, via Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1717, the references to the standards cited in Annex 1a of (EU) 2022/2380 to the latest version of the European standards. The updated version of the standards will apply as of the dates of applicability under the Regulations, that is 28 December 2024 for handheld mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld videogame consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems and earbuds, and 28 April 2026 for laptops. (EU) 2023/1717 can be found at: (EU) 2023/1717. ↩ ↩²