On 15 December 2004 the adoption of Directive 2004/108/EC concluded the 5-year revision process of Directive 89/336/EC on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) between electrical and electronic equipment. The new Directive will bring more legal certainty to the engineering industry in Europe, compared to the existing situation with non-binding guidelines. In particular, it clarifies the scope (improved definitions, more clearly defined exclusions), provides fixed installations with a more appropriate regulatory regime, simplifies the conformity assessment procedure, cuts "red-tape" and increases the manufacturer's choice by abolishing compulsory third-party intervention where harmonised standards have not been applied.

Orgalime has achieved its prior objective to ensure that the new EMC Directive should reflect the joint work carried out between regulators and industry, who had together developed interpretive guidelines of the revised directive. These needed to be incorporated in a new legal text in order to provide a greater sense of legal certainty.

ORGALIME supported the revision of the EMC Directive and is now actively contributing to the smooth implementation of the new Directive, which will be fully applicable from July 2007. ORGALIME aims to enhance the drafting of Commission guidelines by providing technical expertise through its members. ORGALIME also provides input in discussions regarding the application of the EMCD directive, especially in cases of scope overlap with other directives (RTTED, Automotive EMC Directive).

COST 286, PECA, MRA, RTTED, New Approach, harmonised standards (OJEC C304/2 of 7/12/2002)