There are two key Directives covering the safety of electrical appliances in Europe – the Low Voltage (LVD) Directive and the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive.

The LVD Directive ensures that all electrical equipment between certain voltage limits is safe and also compatible with the electricity supply across Europe. Its safety remit includes the health aspects of emissions of electromagnetic fields.

The EMC Directive aims to limit electromagnetic emissions from electrical devices or installations to prevent them disturbing radio and telecommunications and to minimise their interference with one another.

Both these Directives have just been amended and there will now be new UK Regulations to transpose them into UK law. AMDEA will notify members of when the consultations are published and we expect to offer one of our Members’ Briefings on this topic later in the year.

Any safety aspects of electrical appliances not already covered by these two pieces of legislation are dealt with under the General Product Safety Directive which is also currently being reviewed.