EU threat to Amateur Radio kits

EU threat to Amateur Radio kits

Thilo DL9KCE, reports a threat to amateur radio kits and modified equipment arising from changes to the EMC directive.

Currently amateur radio kits and modified equipment are specifically excluded from the directive but under the proposed changes they would be fully subjected to the EMC directive. The resulting high compliance costs could make it uneconomic to develop and sell kits so killing off the kit market. If radio amateurs wished to modify equipment it appears they would also incur additional costs and bureaucratic hassle.

On the IARU Region 1 site, Thilo, DL9KCE, writes:
As part of the New Legislative Framework (NLF) alignment package the European Commission is reworking some directives. One of the affected directives is the EMC directive including some major changes. Most of them are neutral or even good from an amateur radio operators perspective. However there are two slight changes, which very much affect radio amateurs. In short words:

1. The sentence “Kits of components to be assembled by radio amateurs and commercial equipment modified by and for the use of radio amateurs are not regarded as commercially available equipment.” is to be deleted in the new version. That would render kits and modified equipment to be fully subjected to the EMC directive!

2. The definition of the term ‘electromagnetic disturbance’ will include the wanted signal of a radio as a possible source. This is not in line with the radio regulation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and not in line with the vocabulary of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC).

IARU Region 1 will respond to it with a letter soon.

However we strongly suggest, that you contact your local MEPs and tell them about those two changes in the EMCD, that are neither in line with the reasoning of the New Legislative Framework, nor does it help to improve protection of radio services or equipment.

Your can find out who your MEP is and write to them at
http://www.writetothem.com/

Directive 1999/5/EC see ANNEX I
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:091:0010:0010:EN:PDF






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As a keen constructor, I am very concerned about these proposals. If they go through, that would be the end of my construction activities.

 

Just another intrusion into freedom, by those who want to control everything (Gov.) Always under the guise of protectionism.

 

Annex one, item one specifically exempts amateur radio gear.

 

Yet another reason to withdraw from the poisonous EU!

 

The sooner the EU and Eurozone goes bust the better for all concerned.

 

Annex 1 does seem to nullify this concern. Still, this directive reads like Obamacare for the telecom industry!

 

The EU is nuts!!!

 

These folks in the EU must just LOVE being told what they can and cannot do by bureaucrats. Gee, can't wait until the USA goes down the same road.

 

They enjoy it which is why they never objected to the initial formation of the EU back in 1957.

Some people love to be dominated, having every second of their lives managed.
It relieves them of responsibility.

 

Next step is banning ham radio? Looks like....

 

Those fools are ruining their own manufacturing base. I hope this never happens in the USA, but I suppose it is inevitable.

In a surprise move, Hilberling GmbH has stopped production on the much anticipated PT-8000 series of HF/VHF Amateur Radio transceivers. Apparently due to CE marking regulations, Hilberling had to make constant adjustments to the design of the radio and was unable to repeat the performance of prototypes in production models and was not able to justify the expense involved with further redesign work. The CE mark certifies that a product has met European health, safety and environmental requirements, ensuring consumer safety

 

we already are!

 

Most Amateur Radio organisations have neglected contacts to the political institutions for a long time. It is urgent for all national organisations to establish good personal contacts to members of both national and EU parliaments. Extremely unfortunate developments as described by Thilo must and can be stopped only by direct personal interventions by our national amateur radio organisations by "selling" amateur radio and its values in science and for youth to the real decision makers, ie to the parliaments and the parliamentary commissions.
Although not yet EU member, the Swiss authorities have decided to adopt all EU directives on a voluntary basis, without thinking themselves. This made us start - in Switzerland - with exactly what is described above. It works!

 

Hi All
I think this could be a case of a severe panic attack.
Also the following text was posted by UK Ham on another forum in the UK :-

Where are the official documents detailing these proposed changes? A
quick web search failed to find them and they are not referenced in
DL9KCE's startement on the Region 1 site. I did find various things to
do with the NLF (but none relating to the EMC directive), and it seems
this has been discussed since around 2008 so any consultation period is
likely to have long finished. If we really are coming in at such a late
stage it is going to be very difficult to change anything, and I
certainly would not want to persue it without some firm documents to
reference. And as already pointed out, ones local MEP hardly seems the
way to go about it, the best you will get is a bog standard reply.

As an ex pat of the UK living in France the two statements posted by two UK hams will not fix things.

Yet another reason to withdraw from the poisonous EU! .
The sooner the EU and Eurozone goes bust the better for all concerned.

Or put the UK back on track.


Regards Peter F1VKK