The Regulation defines construction products as products placed on the market for incorporation in buildings and civil engineering works in a permanent manner. This includes cement, windows, roof tiles or fire detection systems. The Regulation provides a common technical language to assess the performance of construction products. The responsibility for ensuring that a product has the correct characteristics for a particular application rests with the designers, contractors and local building authorities. Local authorities can carry out a critical role in the enforcement of product safety.
 

The Regulation aims to ensure that reliable information is available to professionals, public authorities, and consumers, so they can compare the performance of products from different manufacturers in different countries. To this end, the Regulation outlines basic requirements for construction works and essential characteristics of construction products (Art 3., Annex I). When a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard or conforms to a European Technical Assessment which has been issued for it, the manufacturer shall draw up a declaration of performance when such a product is placed on the market (Art. 4-7). All construction products for which the manufacturer has drawn up a declaration of performance should have the CE marking (Art. 8). The Regulation defines obligations of economic operators such as manufacturers, authorised operators, importers and distributors (Art. 11 - 16).

The proposal for a revised Construction Products Regulation (CPR) was adopted on 30 March 2022. The proposal aims to address the points which will allow to meet broader policy priorities, particularly on the European Green Deal, and to speed up the use of digital technologies in the ecosystem.

The new CPR aims to:
 

• ensure a smooth functioning of the Single Market and free movement of construction products;
• address the sustainability performances of construction products;
• enable the construction ecosystem's contribution to meeting climate and sustainability goals and embrace the digital transformation, because its competitiveness depends on this;
• ensure that harmonised standards contribute to the competitiveness of the ecosystem and reduce market barriers.

More information on the Construction Products Regulation can be found here: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/construction/construction-products-regulation-cpr_en

On 24 October 2019, the Commission published a Staff Working Document – Evaluation of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/37827.
 

Since the harmonised system created in or by means of the CPR is largely implemented by Member State public authorities, this assessment also examines, where appropriate, the relationship with Member States’ legislation.

• Date of document: 09/03/2011
• Date of effect: 24/04/2011; Entry into force Date pub. +20 See Art 68
• Date of effect: 01/07/2013; Application Partial application See Art 68
• Date of end of validity: No end date