Requirements check
Computer peripheral
USB-powered devices (5–20 V DC) sit below the LVD's 50 V AC / 75 V DC lower limit, so LVD only appears if the product itself is mains-powered. For wireless models the RED replaces the EMC Directive. The EU Cyber Resilience Act reaches even indirectly-connectable products with digital elements (keyboards, mice, webcams are in scope from December 2027); UK PSTI, by contrast, only covers products that can connect to the internet or to a network — a USB-only peripheral is generally out of PSTI scope, verify for your product. Webcams raise privacy expectations but no separate product regulation here.
United Kingdom (GB)4 instruments
The GB law on electromagnetic compatibility: electrical and electronic equipment must not emit electromagnetic disturbance above levels that stop other equipment working as intended, and must have adequate immunity to disturbance. Most manufacturers self-declare conformity and affix UKCA or CE marking.
Key obligations
- 01Design and manufacture equipment so that the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended (Schedule 1 essential requirements).source
- 02Ensure the equipment has a level of immunity to electromagnetic disturbance appropriate to its intended use, allowing it to operate without unacceptable degradation of that use.source
- 03Carry out a conformity assessment (self-declaration via internal production control, or voluntary third-party assessment), draw up a declaration of conformity, and affix the UKCA or CE marking.source
- 04Retain the declaration of conformity and technical documentation for 10 years after the apparatus has been placed on the GB market (applies to manufacturers and importers).source
The general safety net for consumer products in Great Britain: no producer may place a product on the market unless it is safe, and producers and distributors must monitor products and notify authorities about unsafe ones. In Northern Ireland these Regulations were superseded on 13 December 2024 by the EU General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988.
Key obligations
- 01No producer shall place a product on the market unless the product is a safe product (regulation 5) - one which under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use presents no risk, or only the minimum risk compatible with the product's use.source
- 02Producers must provide consumers with the relevant information to enable them to assess the risks and take precautions, and enable traceability by indicating the producer's name and address on the product or its packaging.source
- 03Producers must monitor marketed products: sample-test them, investigate and where necessary keep a register of complaints, and keep distributors informed of the results.source
- 04Distributors must act with due care to help ensure only safe products are supplied and must not supply products that, as a professional, they know or ought to know to be dangerous (regulation 8).source
Restricts ten hazardous substances (including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates) in electrical and electronic equipment placed on the Great Britain market. Manufacturers must self-assess, draw up a declaration of conformity and technical documentation, and affix the UK marking.
Key obligations
- 01EEE placed on the market must not contain the substances listed in Schedule A1 above the maximum concentration value by weight in homogeneous materials: 0.1% for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP, and 0.01% for cadmium.source
- 02Manufacturers must carry out the internal production control procedure and draw up technical documentation demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Manufacturers must draw up a declaration of conformity stating that the requirements have been met in relation to the EEE.source
- 04The UK marking must be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the EEE (or to its packaging or accompanying documents where that is not possible).source
UKCA is Great Britain's product conformity marking, introduced after EU exit for goods that previously used CE marking. Since 1 October 2024, CE marking is also recognised in Great Britain with no end date for most goods covered by the framework, so businesses can generally use either marking.
Key obligations
- 01Before placing a product in scope of the regime on the GB market, carry out the conformity assessment required by the relevant product regulation and affix the UKCA marking — or the CE marking, which businesses have the flexibility to use in place of UKCA under the continued recognition policy.source
- 02Draw up a UK declaration of conformity and maintain technical documentation (technical files and test reports) demonstrating compliance.source
- 03Apply the UKCA marking in its standard, recognisable form, at least 5mm in height (unless a different minimum dimension is specified in the relevant legislation), and ensure it is easily visible, legible and indelible.source
- 04Until 11pm on 31 December 2027, the UKCA marking may alternatively be placed on a label affixed to the product or on a document accompanying the product (certain sectors such as marine, medical devices, rail and construction products have their own specific rules).source
Documents you will need
Deduplicated across everything above
- Declaration of conformityMust identify the apparatus and include manufacturer (and any authorised representative) details; format/content set out in Schedule 4. Retained for 10 years after placing on the GB market.source
- Technical documentationEvidence of the EMC assessment; same 10-year retention requirement applies to manufacturers and importers.source
- Traceability and monitoring recordsNo declaration of conformity or technical file is required. Producers should be able to evidence traceability (name and address on product or packaging), sample testing, complaint investigation and, where necessary, a complaints register.source
- UK Declaration of ConformityMust be drawn up by the manufacturer stating the requirements have been met; a model template is available for download from the GOV.UK RoHS guidance page.source
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