Requirements check
Drone / UAS
IMPORTANT CAVEAT: EU drones must additionally carry an EASA class identification label (C0–C4) under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, and operators face the operational rules of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — these aviation instruments are beyond this dataset; treat them as mandatory additional sector rules. The UK has its own CAA UAS regulations (registration, operator ID, and a UK class-marking scheme being phased in — verify current status). US: FAA rules apply on top — registration, Remote ID (14 CFR Part 89) and Part 107 for commercial operation — out of scope here. As radio equipment, the RC/Wi-Fi links make the RED / UK Radio Equipment Regulations and FCC intentional-radiator certification the core electronics requirements; EMC and LVD objectives are covered via the RED. The mains entries refer to the charger. Toy drones for children under 14 are also toys (EU/UK) and children's products (US). Camera drones raise privacy/GDPR considerations.
European Union7 instruments
A full life-cycle regime for all batteries sold in the EU — sustainability, safety, labelling, CE marking, due diligence and end-of-life duties — replacing the old Batteries Directive. It has applied since 18 February 2024, with major requirements phasing in through 2027 and beyond.
Key obligations
- 01From 18 August 2024, batteries must undergo conformity assessment and carry CE marking against the regulation's sustainability, performance and safety requirements.source
- 02Label batteries with required information — including capacity, hazardous substances and the separate-collection symbol; the general battery label applies from 18 August 2026 (or 18 months after the relevant implementing act, whichever is later).source
- 03From 18 February 2027 (Article 11), portable batteries incorporated in products must be readily removable and replaceable by the end-user using commercially available tools; LMT batteries must be removable and replaceable by an independent professional. Limited derogations exist (e.g. wet-environment appliances, certain medical devices).source
- 04From 18 February 2027, LMT, EV and industrial batteries (above 2 kWh) need a digital battery passport accessible via a QR code.source
The EU's baseline safety law for consumer products, applicable since 13 December 2024. It replaces the General Product Safety Directive and adds duties around traceability, online selling, recalls and having a responsible economic operator in the EU.
Key obligations
- 01Only place safe products on the market. Safety is assessed against the product's characteristics, packaging, instructions, the consumers who will use it, its appearance (food-imitating products) and, where relevant, cybersecurity features.source
- 02A product may only be placed on the EU market if there is a responsible economic operator established in the EU — an EU manufacturer, importer, authorised representative or fulfilment service provider (Article 16).source
- 03Carry out an internal risk analysis and draw up technical documentation; keep product identification and traceability information available (manufacturers, importers and distributors each have tiered duties).source
- 04Report accidents caused by your products and notify dangerous products to the authorities through the Safety Business Gateway.source
The EU's enforcement framework for product rules. Its Article 4 is the practical blocker for online sellers: since 16 July 2021, most CE-marked goods can only be placed on the EU market if an economic operator established in the EU is responsible for compliance tasks — and that operator's contact details must accompany the product.
Key obligations
- 01A product covered by the Article 4 list may only be placed on the EU market if there is an economic operator established in the Union responsible for the Article 4 tasks (applies since 16 July 2021).source
- 02That operator can be: the manufacturer established in the EU; an importer (where the manufacturer is not established in the EU); an authorised representative with a written mandate; or an EU-established fulfilment service provider handling the products (Article 4(2)).source
- 03The operator's tasks (Article 4(3)): verify that the EU Declaration of Conformity and technical documentation exist and keep the DoC available; provide information and documentation to authorities on request; inform authorities when a product presents a risk; cooperate on corrective action.source
- 04The name, registered trade name or trade mark and contact details (including postal address) of the Article 4 operator must be indicated on the product or on its packaging, the parcel or an accompanying document (Article 4(4)).source
The CE framework for anything that intentionally transmits or receives radio waves — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, NFC and more. It bundles safety, EMC and spectrum requirements, and since 1 August 2025 adds mandatory cybersecurity requirements for internet-connected radio equipment under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30.
Key obligations
- 01Meet the essential requirements of Article 3: (1)(a) health and safety (incorporating the LVD safety objectives), (1)(b) electromagnetic compatibility, and (2) effective and efficient use of radio spectrum to avoid harmful interference.source
- 02From 1 August 2025, meet the cybersecurity essential requirements of Article 3(3)(d) (network protection), (e) (personal data and privacy) and (f) (protection from fraud) activated by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 for the radio equipment categories it covers (internet-connected radio equipment; childcare, toy and wearable radio equipment for point (e); equipment handling virtual money for point (f)).source
- 03Draw up technical documentation (Annex V), perform a conformity assessment (Article 17), issue the EU Declaration of Conformity, affix CE marking, and keep documentation for 10 years (Article 10).source
- 04Include in the instructions the frequency band(s) the equipment operates in and the maximum radio-frequency power transmitted, plus any usage restrictions; supply the EU DoC or a simplified DoC with a link to the full version (Article 10).source
The EU's chemicals regulation. For physical-product (article) sellers the practical duties are: communicating Candidate List substances of very high concern (SVHCs) above 0.1% down the supply chain and to consumers, notifying ECHA in some cases, and respecting the Annex XVII restrictions. Full chemical registration applies to substance manufacturers/importers, not typical article sellers.
Key obligations
- 01Article 33(1): if an article contains a Candidate List SVHC above 0.1% weight by weight, provide recipients (businesses in the supply chain) with sufficient information for safe use — at minimum the name of that substance. This applies per article within a complex product.source
- 02Article 33(2): on request from a consumer, provide the same safe-use information (at minimum the substance name) within 45 days, free of charge.source
- 03Article 7(2): EU producers/importers of articles must notify ECHA when a Candidate List substance is present above 0.1% w/w AND its total quantity in those articles exceeds 1 tonne per producer/importer per year — no later than 6 months after the substance is added to the Candidate List. Notification is not required where exposure of humans and the environment can be excluded.source
- 04Notify articles containing Candidate List SVHCs above 0.1% w/w to ECHA's SCIP database (a duty under the Waste Framework Directive, submitted via ECHA).sourceUnverified — check source
Restricts ten hazardous substances — including lead, mercury, cadmium and four phthalates — in electrical and electronic equipment. Compliance is self-assessed, documented through material declarations, and forms part of the CE marking.
Key obligations
- 01Ensure homogeneous materials do not exceed the Annex II maximum concentrations: 0.1% by weight for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP and DIBP; 0.01% for cadmium.source
- 02The four phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP) were added by Delegated Directive (EU) 2015/863 and apply to most EEE from 22 July 2019 (medical devices and monitoring/control instruments from 22 July 2021).source
- 03Carry out the internal production control procedure in line with Module A of Decision 768/2008/EC, draw up technical documentation, and keep it (with the EU Declaration of Conformity) for 10 years (Article 7).source
- 04Draw up an EU Declaration of Conformity and affix the CE marking to the finished product (Article 7).source
Extended producer responsibility for electronics: producers must register in each EU country where they sell, finance the collection and recycling of e-waste, and mark products with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol. It is a waste-law obligation, separate from CE marking.
Key obligations
- 01Register as a producer in the national WEEE register of each Member State where you place EEE on the market before selling there (Article 16).source
- 02Finance at least the collection, treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE from private households (Article 12; Article 13 covers non-household WEEE) — in practice usually via a producer compliance scheme.source
- 03Distance sellers: appoint an authorised representative in each Member State where you sell but are not established, to fulfil the producer obligations there (Article 17).source
- 04Mark EEE with the crossed-out wheeled bin symbol shown in Annex IX (Article 14(4)), plus a mark identifying that it was placed on the market after 13 August 2005 (Article 15(2)).source
Documents you will need
Deduplicated across everything above
- EU Declaration of Conformity + technical documentationRequired for the CE marking of the battery itself (applies since 18 August 2024).source
- Performance and durability informationFrom 18 August 2024, rechargeable industrial batteries >2 kWh, LMT and EV batteries must be accompanied by a document stating electrochemical performance and durability parameters.source
- Battery passport (from 18 February 2027)Digital record for LMT, EV and >2 kWh industrial batteries, linked via QR code.source
- Technical documentationBased on an internal risk analysis; must describe the product and its safety-relevant characteristics. No EU Declaration of Conformity is required under the GPSR itself.source
- Traceability informationProduct identification (type/batch/serial) plus manufacturer and EU responsible operator contact details must accompany the product.source
- Written mandate (when using an authorised representative)The authorised representative must hold a written mandate covering the Article 4 tasks.source
- EU Declaration of Conformity + technical documentation availabilityThe EU operator must be able to verify these exist and produce them for authorities on request.source
- EU Declaration of ConformityFull or simplified version (with internet link to the full DoC) must accompany the equipment; kept 10 years.source
- Technical documentation (Annex V)Includes risk analysis, design/manufacturing details, test reports covering all applicable Article 3 requirements.source
- Instructions with radio informationMust state frequency bands and maximum transmitted RF power, plus safety information and any usage restrictions.source
- Supplier declarations / full material disclosuresEvidence that Candidate List SVHCs are below 0.1% w/w per article, or the basis of your Article 33 communications.source
- Article 33 safe-use communicationsRecords of the information passed to recipients and provided to consumers within the 45-day deadline.source
- Technical documentation per EN IEC 63000Material declarations, analytical test reports and supplier certificates organised per the harmonised documentation standard.source
- National producer register entries and registration numbersMany Member States require the WEEE registration number on invoices/webshop; requirements vary nationally.source
- User informationInstructions/packaging must inform users about separate collection and the crossed-out bin symbol.source
- Treatment information for recyclersFree of charge, identifying components, materials and the location of dangerous substances (Article 15).source
Upcoming deadlines that affect this product
- 2027-02-18Portable batteries must be removable and replaceable by end-usersArticle 11 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 applies from 18 February 2027: products incorporating portable batteries must be designed so end-users can readily remove and replace the battery.source
- 2027-08-18Battery due diligence obligations apply (postponed)Chapter VIII (supply-chain due diligence for cobalt, lithium, natural graphite and nickel) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 was originally applicable from 18 August 2025 but was postponed by two years to 18 August 2027 by amending Regulation (EU) 2025/1561 ('stop-the-clock', adopted 18 July 2025).source
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