Global Regulatory Intelligence

CEPT 6 GHz Wi-Fi rules may get a national opt-in for venues like stadiums. A draft revision of ECC Decision (20)01, open for comment until 27 November 2026, would let CEPT administrations authorise Low Power Indoor (LPI) Wi-Fi use cases that aren't fully indoors, on an individual authorisation basis. The power limits for the 5945–6425 MHz band stay the same, and licence-exempt use remains indoor-only.

UK 6 GHz standard power Wi-Fi gets a legal basis on 10 November 2026. The Wireless Telegraphy (Dynamic Spectrum Access Devices) (Exemption) Regulations 2026, made on 27 October, licence-exempt access points and client devices across 5925–7125 MHz when they operate under an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system. Access points can reach 36 dBm EIRP, and devices must report their location and re-query the AFC every 24 hours.

UK energy smart appliances compliance will start later for electric heating, and with more ways to meet it. In an interim response published on 17 September 2026, DESNZ moved the implementation date for electrical heating appliances to 31 October 2028 or two years after the regulations are made, whichever is later. It will also accept EU MID compliance for metering and EN 18031-3:2024 for cyber security, alongside the routes in the draft rules.

EU battery passport access rules are taking shape. A draft Commission Implementing Regulation, notified to the WTO on 26 October 2026, names who counts as a person with a legitimate interest in the restricted parts of the battery passport, from repairers and recyclers to battery purchasers, and limits how they can use the data. Comments close on 25 December 2026, ahead of the 18 February 2027 passport start date.

CEPT WPT emission limits are being extended to cordless kitchen appliances. A draft revision of ECC Recommendation (25)01, out for public consultation until 20 November 2026, adds a 20–100 kHz operating band at 50 dBµA/m at 10 m and a new set of spurious-emission limits for these appliances. A parallel consultation on ERC Recommendation 70-03 Annex 9 updates the scope wording for hearing implants. Here's what changes and who should comment.

UK ATEX EN IEC 60079-28 has a new edition on the GB list. In Notice of Publication 0144/26, dated 22 October 2026, the Department for Business and Trade designated EN IEC 60079-28:2026, which covers equipment and transmission systems that use optical radiation in explosive atmospheres. The 2015 edition still gives a presumption of conformity until 4 March 2028, so manufacturers have a little over a year to move their GB assessments across.

UK industrial fans ecodesign rules are set to catch up with the EU. On 16 October 2026 the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero opened a consultation on replacing Regulation 327/2011 in Great Britain with requirements aligned to EU Regulation 2024/1834. Fans from 125 W to 500 kW would face higher efficiency grades, new product information and repair rules, and jet fans would come into scope. Responses are due by 24 December 2026.

The UK Government has confirmed it will not introduce common charger regulations in Great Britain. Published by the OPSS on 15 October 2026, the decision means no GB mandate for USB-C ports, harmonised fast charging, charger unbundling or charging labels, while CE marking stays recognised. Northern Ireland still applies the EU Common Charger Directive, including laptops since 28 April 2026, so products sold UK-wide must continue to meet EU requirements.

The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has opened a consultation on a new UK ecodesign standby regulation for Great Britain. The proposal would replace Regulations 1275/2008 and 107/2009 with a single instrument aligned with EU Regulation 2023/826, applied in one step from Q2 2027. It sets a 0.3 W off mode limit, new 2.0 W and 7.0 W networked standby caps and 20-minute auto power-down. Comments close 24 December 2026

On 6 October 2026, the European Commission proposed a new EU Standardisation Regulation to replace Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012. The proposal aims to cut the average development time of harmonised standards from six to four years, introduce binding deadlines, make standards referenced in EU law freely accessible, and allow requests to designated standards bodies beyond CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. Here is what manufacturers need to know before Parliament and Council adopt it.

The European Commission has published the RED Guide 2026, a 95-page update to its guidance on the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU, replacing the 2017 and 2018 editions. The new version adds guidance on cybersecurity and the Cyber Resilience Act transition, Common Charger rules, EU economic operator duties, software updates and multimode equipment, and tightens expectations on risk assessment, technical files, CE marking and RF power declarations.

Azerbaijan has published a draft RoHS-style technical regulation restricting hazardous substances in electrical and radioelectronic products, opening it for public consultation. Issued by the State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Supervision and modeled on EU RoHS and EAEU TR 037/2016, the draft is not yet binding but signals a new national conformity layer. This article breaks down the scope, restricted substances, certification impact, and the timeline and actio

Spain's Ministry of Industry and Tourism has published three BOE resolutions updating the national UNE standards catalog, with the approved-standards list taking effect August 14, 2026. The update introduces revised requirements for household appliances (cooking appliances, motor-compressors, washing machine reliability), low-voltage switchgear (circuit breakers, fuses, arc-fault detection devices), and Electrical Energy Storage Systems. Manufacturers and certification bodies

The European Commission has published Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2003, updating harmonised standards under the Radio Equipment Directive for radiodetermination, UWB, fixed radio, and cellular base station equipment. Thirteen ETSI/Cenelec standards gain presumption of conformity, five are withdrawn, and a prior correction to Decision 2025/2499 is applied. Manufacturers have until 7 March 2028 to transition away from superseded standard versions.

The European Commission has published its long-awaited Cyber Resilience Act Implementation Guidance, clarifying scope, open-source software treatment, "substantial modification," and support-period obligations for connected products. Issued July 27, 2026, the non-binding guidance lands weeks before the CRA's first reporting deadline on September 11, 2026, and well ahead of full enforcement on December 11, 2027. Manufacturers and developers selling digital products in the EU s

Ukraine's NCEC has opened a public consultation on draft radio equipment conditions governing the use of radiating devices for specific radio technologies. The consultation closes September 30, 2026, and will significantly impact certification pathways for manufacturers and importers.

The Ofcom drone spectrum consultation, opened on 16 July 2026, sets out how the UK may authorise new spectrum for drone control links and drone detection radar. Ofcom proposes time-limited access to 450 MHz and the 5030-5091 MHz band for control links, plus a new licence for detection radar at 24 GHz and 16 GHz. The consultation is open for responses until 30 September 2026. Here is what the proposals mean for equipment manufacturers, importers and test labs seeking UK marke

On 7 July 2026, Ofcom published responses to its further consultation on Q/V band satellite gateways, following its March 2026 decision to open up to 10 GHz of spectrum across 94% of the UK. The decision authorises gateway earth-station access in rural low-density areas, while a pending statement will settle high-density urban zones. It is a spectrum-licensing measure for gateway sites, not a new equipment type-approval requirement. We cover the frequencies, licensing pathway

In June 2026, ETSI advanced five deliverables covering LTE user equipment, DECT, DAB broadcasting, ICT accessibility and environmental testing. This ETSI standards update explains what each item covers, which two are Radio Equipment Directive harmonised standards still on approval, and why on-approval status does not yet grant presumption of conformity. It sets out certification impact, a timeline, and the actions manufacturers, importers and labs should take now to protect E

Azerbaijan's accreditation body, AZAK, has recorded an AzInTelecom accreditation suspension effective 10 July 2026. The Certification Department of AzInTelecom LLC (under the AZCON holding), accredited to AZS ISO/IEC 17065:2021 under attestat AZ 02.0041.02.25, is now listed as 'Suspended' with no restoration date. Certificates it issues from that date carry no accredited legal effect. Manufacturers relying on it for telecom, RF and product certification should verify status a