SAR Standard Testing under the EU CE-RED Directive

sar testing under the EU CE-RED Directive is a mandatory safety requirement that wireless products must meet to access the European market. This guide, combined with practical product cases, will sort out the core standards, applicable products and market access strategies for you.

Overview of Core Testing Standards

Under the CE-RED Directive, sar testing is mainly based on a series of harmonized standards to demonstrate that products comply with the essential health and safety requirements.

The table below summarizes the key standards and their applications.

Which Products Must Undergo Testing?

The necessity of SAR testing mainly depends on two factors: whether the product emits radio waves, and the expected distance from the human body during normal use.

Products Mandated to Undergo SAR Testing:

These are typically wireless devices that are used in close proximity to the human body (especially the head and torso) during normal operation. Examples include:

①　Consumer Electronics: Smartphones, tablet computers, Bluetooth headsets, smart watches

②　Professional Communication Equipment: Professional wireless walkie-talkies, wireless MICrophones

③　Emerging IoT Devices: Portable medical monitoring devices, smart sleep monitors

④　Products Eligible for Exemption or Simplified Assessment:

⑤　Equipment with extremely low output power that meets the limits specified in the en 62479 standard.

⑥　Equipment that maintains a certain distance from the human body during use (e.g., more than 20 cm) may be assessed in accordance with the EN 62311 standard instead of undergoing strict SAR testing. For instance, household Wi-Fi routers are usually placed on desktops rather than carried close to the body.

Practical Recommendations for Market Access

1. Conduct Early Assessment: Evaluate the SAR compliance pathway during the product design and planning stage. For example, if you are developing a smart watch, it is necessary to plan the antenna layout and transmit power control in advance to meet the body SAR limits.

2. Select a Professional Laboratory: SAR testing requires a professional laboratory environment and test equipment simULating human tissue. It is essential to choose a third-party laboratory with relevant qualifications and experience.

3. Keep Abreast of Standard Updates and National Differences: Harmonized standards in the EU are subject to updates. Meanwhile, although the RED Directive is applicable across the EU, some member states may impose additional requirements on specific frequency bands, which should be understood in advance.

By understanding these standards and requirements, and integrating compliance into the product life cycle, your products can obtain the CE mark more smoothly and successfully enter the EU market.