Council adopts law for clean and smart construction products

The Council has adopted the construction products regulation (CPR), which harmonises the EU rules for marketing of those products, facilitates their free movement in the single market, reduces administrative burdens and promotes the circular economy and technological development in that sector. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.

The CPR updates the existing EU rules in that area, provides an opportunity to adapt standardisation to new technical developments, providing better information to consumers with the creation of product digital passports and facilitating green choices. The new regulation facilitates the adoption of new standards and empowers the Commission to adopt common specifications under certain conditions when the usual standardisation route is blocked. It also provides for the development of a digital passport system for construction goods,

The regulation adopted today modifies the definition of ‘construction product’. The CPR sets out the obligations of manufacturers, importers and other economic operators and strengthens market surveillance and consumer protection. At the same time, the CPR respects the fact that the right to regulate construction works remains a national competence.

Next steps

Following the Council’s approval today, the legislative act has been adopted.

After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication.

The articles of the regulation relating to the development of standards will be applicable one month after the date of entry into force. All the other articles of the regulation will apply one year after the date of entry into force, except for Article 92 (on penalties), which will apply two years after the date of entry into force.

Background

The construction ecosystem represents almost 5.5% of the EU’s GDP and employs around 25 million people in over 5 million firms. The construction products industry comprises 430 000 companies in the EU, with a total turnover of €800 billion. These are mainly small and medium‑sized enterprises. They are a key economic and social asset for local communities in European regions and cities.

Buildings are responsible for around 50% of resource extraction and consumption and more than 30% of the EU’s total waste each year. In addition, buildings are responsible for 40% of the EU’s energy consumption and 36% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The new regulation on construction products updates the existing legislation in this field, which dates from 2011. The revision of the construction products regulation is part of the package of measures that the Commission presented on 30 March 2022, together with the ecodesign regulation and the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles. These measures are part of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Further information: Council of the European Union