The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection adopted the report by Christian DOLESCHAL (EPP, DE) on the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products (the Construction Products Regulation - CPR).
The purpose of the CPR is to remove technical barriers to trade in construction products to enhance their free movement in the internal market. The construction industry directly provides 18 million jobs in Europe and generates 9 % of GDP.
Members welcomed the Commission’s CPR evaluation and ongoing review, which seek to further address barriers in the internal market for construction products and contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, while taking account of technological developments and innovation.
Common technical language, including standards
The CPR does not harmonise any specific requirements or minimum safety levels for construction products, but instead only defines a common technical language, which is the same for all construction products falling under the CPR, for assessing the performance of construction products over their essential characteristics, laid down in harmonised technical specifications.
Members pointed out that unlike other new legislative framework legislation, the use of harmonised standards under the CPR is mandatory to ensure legal clarity and a level playing field for SMEs and meet the regulatory needs of the Member States.
The Commission is called on to ensure the active involvement of the industry and relevant stakeholders to ensure that new standards are as relevant as possible. A common technical language could help to promote a circular economy as it enables the performance of construction products to be declared in a common manner.
CE marking and Declaration of Performance (DoP)
Members are concerned by the fact that since the CE marking under the CPR differs from other new legislative framework legislation, as it only refers to product performance and does not attest to conformity with specific product requirements, such a difference in approach from other new legislative framework legislation could create confusion as regards the CE marking and diminish its value.
Market surveillance
Market surveillance for construction products is seen as insufficient and ineffective by the industry. Therefore, the report called on Member States to fully implement Regulation (EU) 2019/1020, which aims to strengthen the market surveillance of products covered by EU harmonisation legislation, including the CPR, and establishes the framework for cooperation with economic operators.
Consistent, harmonised and uniform enforcement of new rules by the national market surveillance authorities and for enhanced cross-border cooperation is needed to ensure a level playing field in the construction sector and fair competition in the EU market.
The report also highlighted the need to ensure the effective market surveillance of construction products sold online, especially those purchased from non-EU economic operators, as they might not comply with EU legislation and could therefore influence the quality and safety of construction works.
Sustainability in construction products
Stressing the overall need for a transition to a sustainable and more circular economy in the sourcing, manufacturing, reuse and recycling of construction products and in their use in construction works, Members stressed the need to improve the sustainability of construction products and the availability of secondary and renewable products and materials on the market.
In this regard, the Commission is called on to:
- incorporate certain requirements regarding environmental performance and sustainability criteria across the lifecycle of products into the harmonised standards for specific product categories under the CPR;
- assess how the CPR could support the circularity of construction products, including reused or remanufactured products or those manufactured from recycled materials.