New EU Regulation No. 305/2011

(Construction Products Regulation, or CPR) of the European Parliament and of the European Council is a regulation of 9 March 2011 that lays down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and replaces Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC). The EU regulation is designed to simplify and clarify the existing framework for the placing on the market of construction products.^[1]

Provisions of the new EU Regulation seek to:

• Clarify the affixing of CE marking to construction products.
• Introduce the need to issue a declaration of performance as a basis for CE marking.
• Define clear rules for the assessment and verification of constancy of performance (AVCP) systems applicable to construction products (former Attestation of Conformity AoC).
• Define the role and responsibilities of manufacturers, distributors, importers, notified bodies, technical assessment bodies, market surveillance and Member States' authorities as regards the application of this EU regulation.
• Introduce simplified procedures enabling cost reductions for businesses, especially SMEs.
• Provide a clear framework for the harmonised technical specifications (harmonised standards and European Assessment Documents).