The Implications of the European Automotive EMC Directive

The European automotive EMC directive, 95/54/EC, provides the EMC approval regime for motor vehicles of 4 wheels or more and all equipment intended for fitment to them. The EMC Chapter of the European multi-directive for 2/3 wheeled vehicles, 97/24/EC, provides the approval regime for these vehicles and their equipment. Regulation 10 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) is being updated to provide similar EMC requirements. ISO draft standards are available for forestry and agricultural tractors, and for earth-moving machinery. This paper explains the relationship of these different approvals to the general EMC directive, 89/336/EEC, and offers interpretations for vehicles and their components as well as the implications for the various types of aftermarket components.