Electrical and Electronics Equipment Policy
Electrical and electronics equipment policy
Certain electronics equipment, such as equipment deemed unlawful by Ofcom in the UK and the Commission for Communication Regulations in Ireland, can't be advertised for on WantAd. Also, WantAd doesn't allow advertising for products that are mainly intended to record the private oral, wire or electronic conversations or activities of others without them knowing.
The use and sale of radio transmitting equipment (which broadly means any product that uses radio waves allocated to radio communication other than TV or radio receivers) is regulated under European law (the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive), which applies in the UK and Ireland.
Detailed information about the legality of radio equipment in the UK is available on the Ofcom website, or for Ireland from the Commission for Communication Regulation. Specific UK regulations also apply to plugs, sockets, adaptors and fuse links. For more information on these regulations, please contact your local Trading Standards service.
In response to a WantAd advert, sellers of electrical and electronics equipment also have certain other obligations, for example,
under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006. See the Additional information section for more details on WEEE.
Electronic items
Restricted:
• Radio transmitting equipment: Radio transmitting equipment may only be advertised for on WantAd if the item to be purchased
complies with the R&TTE Directive. Equipment that complies is marked with the 'CE' mark.
• Cordless telephones: Cordless telephones operated on frequencies above 853 MHz can be advertised for, provided the description
from the seller includes authorisation from Ofcom
• Radar detectors: Radar detectors can be advertised for as long as they are not subsequently purchased from Ireland
• Videosenders: Videosenders which operate outside the frequency band 470-854MHz
Not allowed:
• Radar or laser jamming devices: Products that claim to jam or otherwise interfere with police radar aren't allowed.
• Traffic light control devices or signal changers:Products that claim to change stoplights or otherwise inhibit the natural pattern
of a traffic signal aren't allowed.
• Satellite, Digital and Cable TV decoders: Items that can be used to decode encrypted transmissions, or access cable, digital
terrestrial or satellite television programming without authorisation or payment aren't allowed.
Examples of items that aren't allowed include:
• Modified decoder boxes
• Smart Card programmers and unloopers
• Programmed Smart Cards
• Blocker devices
• Hardware or software DSS emulators
• Test cards and 'Stealth Switches' for test cards
• ISO 7816 Programmer
• Un-99, DDT and DAT devices
• Adverts that encourage or provide information on how to decode or gain access to cable, digital terrestrial or satellite
television programming without authorisation or payment
• CB radios: The following items aren't allowed because they are illegal:
• CB radios that operate in the frequency band 26.1-28MHz
• CB radios that are not compliant with the R&TTE Directive or do not comply with specifications in force prior to R&TTE Directive
• Odometer modification devices
• FM modulators: Devices which use the FM broadcast band to transmit radio signals to car radios aren't allowed because they are
illegal. The FM broadcast band is allocated for the exclusive use of licensed broadcasters and FM modulators are not currently licensed to use the FM broadcast band.
• Mobile phone, GPS, Wi-Fi and other jammers: Devices used to jam mobile phones (or any other radio signals including GPS and Wi-Fi) aren't allowed because they are illegal. A mobile phone jammer is a transmitter and a licence is required to use one. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) advise that because the sole effect of jammers is to disrupt licensed radio services, they do not issue
licenses allowing their use.
• Cordless telephones: Cordless telephones operated on frequencies below 853 MHz
• Videosenders: Videosenders may not be advertised for on WantAd if they transmit in the frequency band 470-854MHz. The sale of these items is illegal.
Surveillance devices
Allowed:
• Toy spy cameras for children
• Answering machines
Not allowed:
• Telephone bugging devices and wiretapping devices
• Miniature transmitters
• Surveillance microphones
• Adverts that promote the use of photographic devices to surreptitiously view or record individuals for sexual purposes
Plugs, sockets, adaptors and fuse links
Not allowed:
• Devices that fail to meet the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (safety requirements with which electrical devices
such as plugs, sockets, adaptors and fuse links must comply under UK law).
Additional information
WEEE Regulations
Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams and much of it can be recycled.
• In the UK: The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 ('WEEE Regulations') place certain obligations on all
companies that manufacture, distribute, import or re-brand electrical and electronic equipment ('EEE') in the UK. For more information,
please read the BERR's fact sheet on distributors' obligations and visit VCA's website (VCA is the enforcement body for distributor
obligations).
• In Ireland: Since 2005, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations require that all producers of electronic
and electrical equipment are obliged to pay for the recycling of household electrical goods. These regulations require all retailers to
actively assist in supporting WEEE management in Ireland by accepting a similar piece of WEEE when a customer buys a new electrical or electronic product.