The compliance logic for placing a wireless charger on the EU market can be summed up in one sentence: CE is not a single certificate, but a set of directives. The Radio Equipment Directive (RED, 2014/53/EU) is the backbone, with the Low Voltage Directive (LVD, 2014/35/EU), the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC, 2014/30/EU) and the RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) applying in parallel. Getting this framework clear up front is what prevents you from picking the wrong standards — and paying for test work you don't need.
The RED defines all technical requirements for wireless chargers through three articles. Each article maps to a specific set of standards — this is the key to understanding the standard list that follows.
|
RED Article |
Essential Requirement |
Corresponding Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Article 3.1(a) | Health and safety (electrical safety + human exposure to electromagnetic fields) | EN IEC 62368-1, EN IEC 62311, EN 50364, EN 62369-1 |
| Article 3.1(b) | Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) | EN 301 489-1, EN 301 489-3 |
| Article 3.2 |
Efficient use of the radio spectrum
|
ETSI EN 303 417 |
This step is the most frequently overlooked, yet it directly determines the test plan and the cost. The EU does not apply a one-size-fits-all approach to wireless chargers; instead, products are divided into three categories according to whether they have a data communication function:
Practical note: The vast majority of Qi wireless chargers fall into the second category. Always confirm the classification with your test laboratory before submitting samples — a misclassification will either force re-testing or result in a certificate that is not recognised.
This is the harmonised standard developed by the EU specifically for Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) equipment. It applies to wireless power transmission systems operating in the 19 kHz–30 MHz range that do not use a radio beam. The standard explicitly sets out the permitted frequency bands, including 19–21 kHz, 59–61 kHz, 79–90 kHz, 100–300 kHz and 6.765–6.795 MHz; typical Qi inductive products operate in the 110–205 kHz range.
Core test items include: frequency tolerance and frequency stability, occupied bandwidth, spurious emissions, adjacent channel power, and magnetic field emission characteristics across multiple operating modes — no load, light load, full load and foreign object detection.
Testing covers conducted and radiated disturbance, electrostatic discharge (ESD), RF radiated immunity, electrical fast transients/burst (EFT), surge, and voltage dips and interruptions — and must cover all operating modes of the product.
A wireless charger generates an alternating magnetic field via its coil, so the risk of EMF exposure to the human body — particularly to people wearing pacemakers — must be assessed. EN IEC 62311 provides the generic assessment method for electrical and electronic equipment from 0 Hz to 300 GHz, while EN 50364 and EN 62369-1 address exposure limits for specific frequency bands and device types. Standard-power products can usually meet the exemption conditions; fast-charging products above 15 W require a full assessment.
This standard is built on the Hazard-Based Safety Engineering (HBSE) concept and has fully replaced the older EN 60950-1 (IT equipment) and EN 60065 (AV equipment). For wireless chargers, the focus areas are:
① The safety standard version has changed
The current mandatory EU version of EN IEC 62368-1 is 2020 + A11 (3rd edition). Since 6 July 2024, test reports based on older versions are no longer accepted by EU customs or market surveillance authorities. The 4th edition (IEC 62368-1:2023) has already been published and adds requirements such as the stress relief test for thermoplastic materials and more detailed foreign object test scenarios for wireless power transmitters — it is advisable to plan for these at the design stage.
② EN 303 417 requires Notified Body involvement
To date, EN 303 417 has not been fully included in the list of harmonised standards published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the EU. This means that in most cases a pure "self-declaration" route is not available and a Notified Body must be involved in the assessment. This has a significant impact on both lead time and cost, so be sure to confirm the applicable route and the latest standard version with your laboratory before submitting samples.
CE operates on a "declaration of conformity + technical documentation" model — passing the tests is only one part of it:
The complete certification cycle for a standard wireless charger is approximately 2–4 weeks (excluding rectification). If Notified Body review is required, or if a full EMF exposure assessment is needed for high-power fast charging, the cycle will be extended accordingly.
Global United Technology Services Co., Ltd. holds the internationally recognised CNAS (L5775) laboratory qualification, US FCC NVLAP qualification, and domestic CMA inspection and testing qualification. We are capable of issuing internationally mutually recognised test reports, and hold authorised qualifications from major bodies including ITS (UK), TÜV (Germany) and Eurofins (Belgium). Focusing on the core testing fields of EMC, electrical safety, wireless RF and chemical testing, we provide export compliance certification services with a one-stop approach covering testing, rectification and technical training — making us your ideal partner.
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