Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110

The construction sector plays a crucial part in the European economy because it contributes significantly to employment, innovation and sustainable development. In order to support that sector and to make it future-proof, the European Union has introduced the new Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110. That new European regulation establishes harmonised rules for placing construction products on the market. It will gradually replace Regulation (EU) 305/2011, depending on the publication of new harmonised standards. The regulation entered into force in part on 7 January 2025 and most of its provisions will apply as from 8 January 2026.

Objectives of the Construction Products Regulation revision

New Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 addresses some of the shortcomings of Regulation (EU) 305/2021 and better meets the current needs of the construction sector.

The objectives of the regulation’s revision are:

• Strengthening the internal market for construction products
  New Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 introduces the concept of a “harmonised area” to ensure the free movement of construction products within the EU. That concept allows to remove the trade barriers linked to differences in the application of rules by the Member States. It also reduces the uncertainty and administrative burden linked to the national interpretation of regulations for manufacturers and distributors.
   
• Digitalisation and simplification of processes
  The construction sector is undergoing rapid digitalisation, but the applicable regulation provides insufficient support for digital solutions. The new regulation introduces the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will make it easier for economic operators to gain access to essential product information. Digitalisation and the availability of product information increases transparency and reduces administrative burdens.
   
• Promoting sustainability and circular economy
  The European Green Deal and the circular economy strategy set stricter environmental requirements for all sectors, including construction. The new regulation puts greater emphasis on environmental performances and requirements for construction products. That means that manufacturers will bear increased responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their entire life cycle.
   
• Improved market surveillance and enforcement of rules
  The new regulation provides for stricter market surveillance and better cooperation between the national authorities. That should lead to better compliance with product conformity rules and thus to better consumer protection.
   
• Adapting the construction sector to technological innovations
  The construction sector is evolving rapidly, with new materials, production techniques and innovative solutions such as 3D-printed structures and modular construction methods. The new regulation introduces a more dynamic and future-proof system, enabling legislation to react more quickly to technological developments.
   
• Developing standards in response to market needs
  The slow development and adoption of harmonised standards is one of the biggest challenges in the construction sector. Long lead times often cause standards to lag behind technological innovations and market developments. To solve that problem, the new regulation wants to accelerate the standardisation process and better align it with the needs of the sector. In order to ensure that standards comply with the legal requirements of the Member States, an expert group will support the Commission in preparing standardisation requests and other harmonised technical specifications.

Main innovations of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110

The new Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 brings along different adaptations in comparison to the current regulation 305/2011. The most important innovations are:

• Integration of additional economic operators:
  responsibilities are now being assigned to fulfilment service providers and online marketplace operators.
   
• Introduction of the Declaration of Performance and Conformity:
  the Declaration of Performance (DoP) is replaced by a Declaration of Performance and Conformity (DoPC). It includes characteristics relating to safety, environment and climate, in addition to characteristics relating to performance.
   
• Introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP):
  The passport makes product information digitally available and facilitates updating it.
   
• Introduction of performances regarding environmental sustainability:
  The new regulation focuses more on environmental performances. Manufacturers must provide information about the environmental impact of their products throughout their entire life cycle, including greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• Setting up CPR Acquis Expert Groups responsible for the preparatory work regarding standardisation necessary for the standardisation request.
   
• Drawing up harmonised technical specifications: Under the new regulation, the European Commission can itself draw up harmonised technical specifications when harmonised standards are not drawn up within the set timeframe or do not meet market needs.
   
• Introduction of a formal complaint mechanism for economic operators and consumers to report their concerns about construction products.
   
• Taking into account modern construction methods and innovative materials (3D printing) by adapting the regulatory framework accordingly. 

• Including recycled and reused construction products in the scope of the new regulation, provided they are part of the standardisation request.

Economic operators of the construction sector and their responsibilities

The new Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 specifies the obligations of economic operators in the construction sector.

More details on those obligations can be found on the webpage Obligations of economic operators under Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 on construction products.

Timeline and implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110

The new Regulation 2024/3110 will be implemented gradually. The period between the entry into force and the date of application will give manufacturers, importers and market surveillance authorities, time to prepare for the new requirements and procedures introduced by that regulation.

The Commission provides for a phased implementation of the regulation for the different construction products. Introduction of various new standards will take place gradually, with transition periods that may last until 2040.

Below are a number of dates that give an idea of the important phases in the new Regulation (EU) 2024/3110:

18 December 2024: Publication of Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 in the EU Official Journal.

7 January 2025: Entry into force of general articles relating to the development of new standards.

8 January 2026: Most provisions of the new regulation will apply, and some articles of Regulation (EU) 305/2011 will be repealed.

From 8 January 2026, manufacturers, distributors and other parties involved must comply with the new harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products once the new harmonised standards are available.

From 8 January 2026, European Assessment Documents (EADs), documents used to assess the performance of construction products not covered by harmonised standards, can be resumed under the new Regulation. From 9 January 2031, the EADs established under Regulation 305/2011 will no longer apply. From 9 January 2036, the European Technical Assessments (ETAs), certificates confirming that the assessed construction products comply with the performance criteria set out in the EADs established under Regulation 305/2011, will no longer be valid. 

8 January 2027: The penalty provisions, as described in Article 92 of the regulation, as well as the enforcement and penalty provisions relating to environmental performance declarations, will enter into force. From that date, authorities will be able to carry out checks and impose penalties on manufacturers who do not comply with the obligations regarding environmental performance declarations.

8 January 2040: Regulation 305/2011 will be completely repealed.