UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017
S.I. 2017/1206 — Great Britain radio equipment market access and designated standards
Standard Introduction
The Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1206), as amended, govern covered radio equipment placed on the Great Britain market. Regulation 6 addresses health and safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and effective and efficient use of radio spectrum. Northern Ireland has distinct EU-linked provisions within the instrument.
On 3 November 2026, the government published notice 0145/26 and consolidated designated-standard list version 11. The notice adds and replaces references and identifies standards that retain a presumption of conformity only until stated removal dates, including six references due for removal on 15 November 2026.
Three Essential Requirement Areas
Radio equipment placed on the Great Britain market must address health and safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and effective and efficient use of radio spectrum under regulation 6.
Designation Creates a Presumption Route
Applying a designated standard can support a presumption of conformity only for the requirements and parameters it covers. Listed restrictions and removal dates remain part of the evidence decision.
The 3 November 2026 List Is Live
Notice 0145/26 replaces five rows, adds eight references and maintains a separate Annex II for references approaching removal, including six removals on 15 November 2026.
list_alt Decisions Before a GB Radio Product Launch
- Confirm the product is radio equipment within S.I. 2017/1206
- Separate Great Britain from Northern Ireland and EU market routes
- Map regulation 6 essential requirements to the product
- Choose UKCA, CE or another route allowed by current GB rules
- Check notice 0145/26 and consolidated list version 11 for exact standard versions
- Read every restriction and Annex II removal date
- Use the required conformity-assessment procedure when standards are absent or only partly applied
- Retain the declaration, technical file, labels and production-control evidence
Who Needs to Comply?
Manufacturers, importers, distributors and authorised representatives placing transmitters, receivers or products with intentional radio functions on the Great Britain market; product, RF, EMC, safety and quality teams; laboratories and UK Approved Bodies selecting evidence; and supply-chain teams verifying declarations, markings and standard versions.
Key Requirements
Confirm Scope and Market
Document why the product is radio equipment, the intended use and frequencies, and whether it is placed on the market in Great Britain. Northern Ireland follows a distinct EU-linked regime within the same instrument.
Map the Essential Requirements
Build an evidence matrix for health and safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and effective and efficient spectrum use. Check whether any additional requirements apply to the product category.
Control the Standards Baseline
Record the exact designated-standard reference, version, covered requirement, restriction and any Annex II removal date from the current official notice. A standard title alone is insufficient.
Select the Assessment Route
Where designated standards are not applied, are applied only partly, or do not exist, determine whether the applicable conformity procedure requires type examination or another third-party route.
Prepare Market-access Evidence
Complete the declaration of conformity, technical documentation, test reports, product identification, instructions, safety information, markings and manufacturer or importer details required for the chosen route.
Maintain Series-production Conformity
Keep procedures for production conformity, complaints, non-conforming products, corrective action and regulatory cooperation. Manufacturers and importers must retain required documentation for ten years after placement on the market.
Implementation Roadmap
Confirm product and market scope
Classify the radio functions, intended use, frequency bands, product variants, economic-operator roles and destination markets. Separate Great Britain from Northern Ireland and EU evidence routes before selecting standards or markings.
Build the requirements and standards matrix
Map regulation 6 requirements to hazards and product functions. For each claim, record the exact reference and version in notice 0145/26, the covered requirement, restrictions, removal date and any gap requiring another assessment route.
Test and assemble the technical file
Approve representative configurations and complete RF, EMC, safety and other applicable assessments. Compile reports, risk decisions, drawings, software or firmware identification, instructions, labels and the route-specific declaration.
Release and maintain conformity
Approve marking and economic-operator details, verify importer checks, retain the evidence for the required period, monitor designated-standard notices and reassess product, supplier, radio, software or standards changes.
Compliance Checklist
checklist Scope and route
checklist Standards baseline
checklist Technical evidence
checklist Production and monitoring
Which Radio-equipment Document Answers Which Question?
Keep the legal obligation, standards shortcut and regional market routes separate.
| Document | Question answered | Legal role |
|---|---|---|
| S.I. 2017/1206 | What duties apply to radio equipment in Great Britain? | Binding regulation |
| Notice 0145/26 | Which references currently support a GB presumption of conformity? | Official designation notice with restrictions and removal dates |
| EU RED 2014/53/EU | What radio-equipment framework applies in the EU and EU-linked routes? | Separate EU legal framework |
| Individual EN/ETSI standard | How is a defined technical requirement tested or assessed? | Voluntary technical specification unless another instrument requires it |
Common Misconceptions
A harmonised EN version is automatically designated in Great Britain.
The exact reference and version must appear in the current GB notice. EU and GB lists can diverge.
A listed standard proves every essential requirement.
Presumption is limited to the requirements and parameters covered, subject to any published restriction.
An Annex II reference stops working as soon as the notice is published.
It continues to confer the stated presumption until its listed removal date, not beyond it.
UKCA is now mandatory for every GB radio product.
Great Britain continues to recognise CE routes for this regulation, but the product's full set of regulations and chosen assessment route still control the marking decision.
Penalties & Enforcement
The Regulations are mandatory for covered radio equipment in Great Britain. Enforcement powers and offences depend on the breached duty and circumstances; authorities can require compliance action and restrict, withdraw or recall equipment. This page does not replace the current legislation or enforcement guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products are covered by the UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017?
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The Regulations cover radio equipment placed on the UK market, subject to stated exclusions and distinct territorial provisions. For a Great Britain launch, document the intentional transmit or receive function, intended use and any product-specific exclusion before selecting a conformity route.
What changed on 3 November 2026?
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The government published notice 0145/26 and consolidated list version 11. The notice replaces five listed rows, adds eight references and updates Annex II removal dates. It changes the standards baseline, not the underlying regulation 6 essential requirements.
Does using a designated standard guarantee full compliance?
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No. It can create a presumption of conformity only for the requirements and parameters it covers. Restrictions, partial application, product-specific hazards, other regulations, documentation and production duties still need separate evidence.
Can CE-marked radio equipment still be sold in Great Britain?
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Great Britain continues to recognise current EU requirements, including CE marking, for the Radio Equipment Regulations under the 2024 framework. Manufacturers still need to confirm the current route, applicable EU evidence and any other GB product regulations for the specific product.
What happens to standards listed for removal on 15 November 2026?
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The six listed references continue to confer their stated presumption only until the removal date. On and after 15 November 2026 they are no longer designated, so affected technical files need a current replacement or a documented alternative conformity route.
How long must technical documentation be retained?
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For Great Britain, regulations 11 and 28 require manufacturers and importers respectively to retain or make available the declaration and technical documentation for ten years after the equipment is placed on the market.
Official Documentation
Official PDF for UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017
Official publication or summary for UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017
Official online resource
United Kingdom Government guidance and reference material
Implementation toolkit
Templates, guidance, or companion resources for UK Radio Equipment Regulations 2017