1. Why was the R&TTE framework adopted?


The R&TTE Directive was adopted as a consequence of the evolution seen in the telecommunications sector - with the development of new technologies, the market’s evolution and new legislation on telecommunications networks - requiring a revamp of the framework governing radiocommunications and terminal equipment.

The growing importance of such equipment, rapid technological evolution and the need to ensure there are no barriers to the free movement of goods was not compatible with the previous framework based upon approval and homologation.  The R&TTE Directive was introduced in order to ensure that investment, manufacture and commercialisation keeps pace with the sector's evolution in terms of technology and the market.  The R&TTE Directive also enables greater harmonisation of procedures, since it is based on making the market players responsible through conformity assessment and marking procedures, in order to guarantee compliance with applicable requirements and conditioning factors.