[mschuster91]

As written above, everything related to radio has huge upfront costs in certifications. These costs are once-applicable, so if you're making a million-unit BT dongle, then the certification costs per device are fractions of cents. Here with thousand-unit series, the cost per device is massively higher.

[asdfs]

Isn't the BLE112 already certified? Or does integrating it into a product require you to get the entire product certified?

[mschuster91]

In Europe, the one who imports the device must submit a certification document for the device... so even if you just stick already-approved products together you have to do a complete recertification. This, sadly, also includes selling a "Raspberry Pi computer" with you as distributor packing a Pi and a Wifi stick in a case. Only if you ship the individual components to the customer to self-assemble, you don't need certification...

[tlrobinson]

Where is the "individual components" line drawn?

[mschuster91]

As soon as you take anything and put it together, my lawyer has told me. Technically, even computer shops assembling computers from parts will need a full certification for every combination they sell... it's crazy.

Add the WEEE regulation (valuable resource recycling) to the mess and you're out a couple thousand bucks if you do everything by the books.

[tlrobinson]

Interesting. Are Adafruit (https://www.adafruit.com/category/112) and Sparkfun (https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/16) certifying each of their wireless module breakout boards, for example?

[mschuster91]

Adafruit is an US company, they can take advantage of simpler US regulations. As long as I import the modules for private usage, I don't need EU regulations (but in case my device causes RF interruptions, I still am liable!).

As soon as I start to selling them for money in the EU, I am the importer and thus need to provide CE certification, R&TTE inspection, WEEE trash register, etc pp.