Regulatory news: CE, FCC, RED, PTCRB
Tracking of regulatory evolutions affecting electronic and IoT products: OJEU publications, activation pivot dates, new harmonised standards, technology sunsets. Updated with each significant evolution.
Upcoming deadlines
Section titled “Upcoming deadlines”The regulatory dates still ahead, drawn from the items below. Each deadline links to the article documenting it, which cites its primary sources.
Subscribe: .ics calendar for Outlook, Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. It updates itself as new deadlines are published.
Published items
Section titled “Published items”36 items, most recent first
-
FCC proposes to rewrite its 2002 UWB rules
Adopted 30 September 2026, FCC 26-66 would codify a decade of UWB waivers: swept waveforms, a new fixed or mobile outdoor device class, no toy ban and no section 15.525 coordination.
-
Machinery Directive: 64 new citations, and a list that ends
64 references join the Machinery Directive list with immediate presumption of conformity, nothing is deleted, and the whole list is repealed on 20 January 2027.
-
CRA: the reporting platform is live, but not finished
The platform receiving CRA vulnerability reports went live the same day the obligation did, and shipped incomplete: Article 14 only, no API, and one Primary representative per manufacturer.
-
FCC 26-50 in force, but marketplaces wait until 2027
The component prohibition starts on 13 October 2026. The FCC ID display duty for online marketplaces does not: the codified rule fixes 1 March and 1 June 2027, and three exemptions narrow it further.
-
RED: eight new citations, five deferred to 2028
The first RED standards decision of 2026 ends a nine-month gap. Eight references gain presumption of conformity immediately, and the five deletions that accompany them do not bite until 7 March 2028.
-
CRA: vulnerability reporting started 11 September
The first binding CRA obligation landed on 11 September 2026. The 24-hour clock starts on awareness, and the platform that receives the report opened the same day.
-
Batteries: end-user removability on 18 February 2027
18 February 2027 brings three obligations under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 together: end-user battery removability, a QR code on every battery, and the battery passport.
-
CE in Great Britain: indefinite is not automatic
SI 2024/696 deleted the sunset clause on a CE recognition running since 31 December 2020, and opened a second route. SI 2026/867 shows where indefinite stops.
-
Machinery 2023/1230: 20 October 2026 is a penalties date
20 October 2026 makes Article 50(1) of the Machinery Regulation applicable and fixes the deadline for notifying national penalty rules. The notified body regime has applied since 2024.
-
RoHS: lead exemptions restructured from 1 July 2026
Delegated Directives (EU) 2025/1802, 2025/2363 and 2025/2364 break lead exemptions 6(a), 6(b), 6(c), 7(a) and 7(c) into sub-entries expiring between December 2026 and December 2027.
-
EMC harmonised standards: no citation since 2022
No new EMC standard has been cited in the OJEU since Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/910 of 9 June 2022. Presumption of conformity stays tied to the cited editions.
-
RED: six standards lose citation on 15 November
Three 2025 decisions schedule withdrawals of RED harmonised standards. The first deadline falls on 15 November 2026 and covers six references.
-
CRA: 17 draft ETSI standards open for comment
The 17 CRA vertical draft standards are public. None is cited in the OJEU yet, so no product in scope of the regulation has a presumption of conformity today.
-
PPWR applies: what changes for electronics packaging
The PPWR has applied since 12 August 2026. For electronics packaging, little of it bites on day one: the Annex VII file, heavy metals, and a timetable running to 2038.
-
US Cyber Trust Mark: still closed to applications
Adopted in March 2024, the voluntary US Cyber Trust Mark programme still accepts no product applications in August 2026: accreditation and test procedures are missing.
-
AI Act: applicable, but high-risk duties are deferred
The general application date of 2 August 2026 stands. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 rewrote Article 113: Annex I high-risk obligations now run to 2 August 2028.
-
Right to repair: Directive 2024/1799 now applies
The Article 5 obligation to repair covers only goods falling under the ten acts listed in Annex II. Repair under the legal guarantee extends the liability period by 12 months.
-
FCC extends the Covered List ban to components
Third Report and Order FCC 26-50 extends the Covered List prohibition down to the component level and requires online marketplaces to display the FCC ID.
-
Digital product passport: the EU registry is live
The DPP registry is live, six harmonised standards are cited in the OJ and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 sets the operating rules. First deadline: 18 February 2027, batteries.
-
Upper 6 GHz (6425-7125 MHz): where the EU stands
State of play on 6425-7125 MHz in Europe: the December 2024 CEPT mandate, the RSPG prioritised band split, CEPT Report 92 on coexistence, and no implementing decision.
-
EMC Directive amended: emergency procedures, 30 May
Directive 2024/2749 gives ten directives an emergency chapter. For EMC: crisis standards, common specifications and priority surveillance, after Council and Commission acts.
-
FCC test labs: Trusted Test Lab track and new disclosures
FCC 26-28 prioritizes PAG equipment tested in Trusted Test Labs. The ownership reporting changes are still delayed and the non-reciprocal lab ban is only proposed.
-
RED 3.3: repeal scheduled for 11 December 2027
Published in the OJEU on 29 April 2026, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/339 repeals Regulation (EU) 2022/30 with effect from 11 December 2027, avoiding a double regime with the CRA.
-
USB-C: laptops in scope since 28 April
The final common charger deadline has passed: laptops join the USB-C regime, with USB Power Delivery, a charger-free purchase option and a packaging pictogram.
-
GPSR: what actually applies to a CE-marked product
Article 2 of the GPSR sets Chapter III Section 1 aside for CE-marked products: neither Article 16 nor the ten-year file is the operative rule for them.
-
EN 303 687: Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 in the 6 GHz band
State of play of EN 303 687, the RED harmonised standard for Wi-Fi 6 GHz equipment in Europe: OJEU citation with restrictions, LPI and VLP modes, divergence from the FCC.
-
6 GHz: the FCC creates the geofenced GVP class
FCC 26-1 creates GVP devices: 11 dBm/MHz and 24 dBm EIRP for access points, under a centralised geofencing system approved by the Commission.
-
Covered List: all foreign-made drones added
Public notice DA 25-1086 places all foreign-produced drone systems and their critical components on the Covered List. No new authorization is available.
-
PTCRB: the PPMD moves to V4 and drops GSM
Across two releases in October and December 2025, the PTCRB process document lost GSM and pushed IoT Device certification out into a separate guide.
-
FCC brings radio modules into the Covered List
FCC 25-71 extends the Covered List prohibition to modular transmitters and to host products incorporating one, with a mandatory attestation from the applicant.
-
Data Act: design obligation on 12 September 2026
The Data Act design obligation covers connected products placed on the market after 12 September 2026. The access right itself has applied since 12 September 2025.
-
RED 3.3 cybersecurity: mandatory since 1 August 2025
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30 took effect on 1 August 2025: every connected radio product must demonstrate compliance with RED articles 3.3(d), 3.3(e), 3.3(f).
-
Accessibility: Directive (EU) 2019/882 now applies
Directive (EU) 2019/882 on accessibility applies from 28 June 2025. EN 301 549 is the technical reference for computers, smartphones, terminals and e-readers.
-
USB-C universal charging port: directive 2022/2380 in force
Directive (EU) 2022/2380 took effect on 28 December 2024: USB-C is mandatory, USB PD is required above 15 W, charger bundling is optional. Laptops covered since April 2026.
-
Cyber Resilience Act timeline: 2026 to 2027 deadlines
Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 applies from 11 September 2026: early warning within 24 hours through the ENISA platform. Main obligations follow on 11 December 2027.
-
EN 18031 published: the RED 3.3 path opens
Publication of the three standards EN 18031-1, -2 and -3, then their OJEU citation in January 2025: manufacturers finally have a documented method to demonstrate RED article 3.3 compliance.
Severity levels
Section titled “Severity levels”- Major, substantive regulatory change, broad impact on product portfolio
- Minor, targeted evolution, impact limited to certain categories
- Info, technical clarification, standards update, no fundamental regulatory change
Following this section
Section titled “Following this section”The section RSS feed carries every item with its date and summary.
Watch sources
Section titled “Watch sources”To follow evolutions in real time between spilma publications:
- EUR-Lex: Official Journal of the European Union, L series (texts) and C series (harmonised standards references)
- ETSI: European radio standards portal
- FCC OET KDB: FCC interpretation publications
- Federal Register: Official publication of US rules, the condition for them taking effect
- PTCRB: Test plans and release notes
- GSMA TAC database: Worldwide cellular model registry