Arduino and Raspberry outlawed

This publication is intended to draw the attention of the community of radio amateurs and small manufacturers of REA to the upcoming change in legislation. Perhaps in the near future for the manufacture and sale of a smart cat feeder on Arduino without a declaration of conformity, you will be prosecuted and then punished in all its severity.

To begin with, manufacturers of low-voltage equipment in the territory of the Russian Federation are required to comply with, at a minimum, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the Safety of Low-Voltage Equipment” (TR TS 004/2011). The term “low-voltage equipment” until now means electrical equipment intended for use at a rated voltage of 50 to 1000 V (inclusive) of alternating current and from 75 to 1500 V (inclusive) of direct current. This also includes computers, hand-held power tools, household appliances, and so on. However, this definition does not include electronics with a rated voltage below 50 and 75 Volts for AC and DC, respectively. That is, not all electronics fall into this framework. For example, Arduino with Raspberry and their entire ecosystem misses.

But for some reason the legislator does not like this state of affairs, and now the decision to amend No. 1 to the aforementioned Technical Regulations is already being prepared for signing. One of the main changes is the criterion for the applicability of technical regulations. Now, the term “low-voltage equipment” includes everything that uses voltage from 0 to 1000 V AC and from 0 to 1500 V DC. That is absolutely all electronics.

What is the fact that any electronics is subject to the technical regulations?

Here is a list of only the most tangible consequences:

  • The need to confirm compliance with the Technical Regulations at least through the Declaration of Conformity.
  • The need to test products in an accredited laboratory.
  • The ban on the sale of products even in a single copy without a Declaration.

If the decision is made in this form, then all small electronics manufacturers who will be forced to invest in testing for the Declaration of Conformity will be hit. And this, you see, does not bring anything good.

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