1.   The basic requirements for construction works set out in Annex I shall constitute the basis for the preparation of standardisation mandates and harmonised technical specifications.

2.   The essential characteristics of construction products shall be laid down in harmonised technical specifications in relation to the basic requirements for construction works.

3.   For specific families of construction products covered by a harmonised standard, the Commission shall, where appropriate and in relation to their intended uses as defined in harmonised standards, determine by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, those essential characteristics for which the manufacturer shall declare the performance of the product when it is placed on the market.

Where appropriate, the Commission shall also determine, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, the threshold levels for the performance in relation to the essential characteristics to be declared.

1.   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.

2.   When a construction product is covered by a harmonised standard or conforms to a European Technical Assessment which has been issued for it, information in any form about its performance in relation to the essential characteristics, as defined in the applicable harmonised technical specification, may be provided only if included and specified in the declaration of performance except where, in accordance with Article 5, no declaration of performance has been drawn up.

3.   By drawing up the declaration of performance, the manufacturer shall assume responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with such declared performance. In the absence of objective indications to the contrary, Member States shall presume the declaration of performance drawn up by the manufacturer to be accurate and reliable.

1.   The declaration of performance shall express the performance of construction products in relation to the essential characteristics of those products in accordance with the relevant harmonised technical specifications.

2.   The declaration of performance shall contain, in particular, the following information:

3.   The declaration of performance shall in addition contain:

4.   The declaration of performance shall be drawn up using the model set out in Annex III.

5.   The information referred to in Article 31 or, as the case may be, in Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, shall be provided together with the declaration of performance.

1.   A copy of the declaration of performance of each product which is made available on the market shall be supplied either in paper form or by electronic means.

However, where a batch of the same product is supplied to a single user, it may be accompanied by a single copy of the declaration of performance either in paper form or by electronic means.

2.   A paper copy of the declaration of performance shall be supplied if the recipient requests it.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, the copy of the declaration of performance may be made available on a web site in accordance with conditions to be established by the Commission by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 60. Such conditions shall, inter alia, guarantee that the declaration of performance remains available at least for the period referred to in Article 11(2).

4.   The declaration of performance shall be supplied in the language or the languages required by the Member State where the product is made available.

1.   The general principles set out in Article 30 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 shall apply to the CE marking.

2.   The CE marking shall be affixed to those construction products for which the manufacturer has drawn up a declaration of performance in accordance with Articles 4 and 6.

If a declaration of performance has not been drawn up by the manufacturer in accordance with Articles 4 and 6, the CE marking shall not be affixed.

By affixing or having affixed the CE marking, manufacturers indicate that they take responsibility for the conformity of the construction product with the declared performance as well as the compliance with all applicable requirements laid down in this Regulation and in other relevant Union harmonisation legislation providing for its affixing.

The rules for affixing the CE marking provided for in other relevant Union harmonisation legislation shall apply without prejudice to this paragraph.

3.   For any construction product covered by a harmonised standard, or for which a European Technical Assessment has been issued, the CE marking shall be the only marking which attests conformity of the construction product with the declared performance in relation to the essential characteristics, covered by that harmonised standard or by the European Technical Assessment.

In this respect, Member States shall not introduce any references or shall withdraw any references in national measures to a marking attesting conformity with the declared performance in relation to the essential characteristics covered by a harmonised standard other than the CE marking.

4.   A Member State shall not prohibit or impede, within its territory or under its responsibility, the making available on the market or the use of construction products bearing the CE marking, when the declared performances correspond to the requirements for such use in that Member State.

5.   A Member State shall ensure that the use of construction products bearing the CE marking shall not be impeded by rules or conditions imposed by public bodies or private bodies acting as a public undertaking, or acting as a public body on the basis of a monopoly position or under a public mandate, when the declared performances correspond to the requirements for such use in that Member State.

6.   The methods used by the Member States in their requirements for construction works, as well as other national rules in relation to the essential characteristics of construction products, shall be in accordance with harmonised standards.

1.   The CE marking shall be affixed visibly, legibly and indelibly to the construction product or to a label attached to it. Where this is not possible or not warranted on account of the nature of the product, it shall be affixed to the packaging or to the accompanying documents.

2.   The CE marking shall be followed by the two last digits of the year in which it was first affixed, the name and the registered address of the manufacturer, or the identifying mark allowing identification of the name and address of the manufacturer easily and without any ambiguity, the unique identification code of the product-type, the reference number of the declaration of performance, the level or class of the performance declared, the reference to the harmonised technical specification applied, the identification number of the notified body, if applicable, and the intended use as laid down in the harmonised technical specification applied.

3.   The CE marking shall be affixed before the construction product is placed on the market. It may be followed by a pictogram or any other mark notably indicating a special risk or use.

1.   Member States shall designate Product Contact Points for Construction pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 764/2008.

2.   Articles 10 and 11 of Regulation (EC) No 764/2008 shall apply to Product Contact Points for Construction.

3.   With regard to the tasks defined in Article 10(1) of Regulation (EC) No 764/2008, each Member State shall ensure that the Product Contact Points for Construction provide information, using transparent and easily understandable terms, on the provisions within its territory aimed at fulfilling basic requirements for construction works applicable for the intended use of each construction product, as provided for in Article 6(3)(e) of this Regulation.

4.   Product Contact Points for Construction shall be able to carry out their functions in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest, particularly in respect of the procedures for obtaining the CE marking.

1.   Manufacturers shall draw up a declaration of performance in accordance with Articles 4 and 6, and affix the CE marking in accordance with Articles 8 and 9.

Manufacturers shall, as the basis for the declaration of performance, draw up technical documentation describing all the relevant elements related to the required system of assessment and verification of constancy of performance.

2.   Manufacturers shall keep the technical documentation and the declaration of performance for a period of 10 years after the construction product has been placed on the market.

Where appropriate, the Commission may, by means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, amend that period for families of construction products on the basis of the expected life or part played by the construction product in the construction works.

3.   Manufacturers shall ensure that procedures are in place to ensure that series production maintains the declared performance. Changes in the product-type and in the applicable harmonised technical specifications shall be adequately taken into account.

Manufacturers shall, where deemed appropriate with regard to ensuring the accuracy, reliability and stability of the declared performance of a construction product, carry out sample testing of construction products placed or made available on the market, investigate, and, if necessary, keep a register of complaints, of non-conforming products and of product recalls, and keep distributors informed of any such monitoring.

4.   Manufacturers shall ensure that their construction products bear a type, batch or serial number or any other element allowing their identification, or, where the size or nature of the product does not allow it, that the required information is provided on the packaging or in a document accompanying the construction product.

5.   Manufacturers shall indicate on the construction product or, where that is not possible, on its packaging or in a document accompanying it, their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and their contact address. The address shall indicate a single point at which the manufacturer can be contacted.

6.   When making a construction product available on the market, manufacturers shall ensure that the product is accompanied by instructions and safety information in a language determined by the Member State concerned which can be easily understood by users.

7.   Manufacturers who consider or have reason to believe that a construction product which they have placed on the market is not in conformity with the declaration of performance or not in compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, shall immediately take the necessary corrective measures to bring that construction product into conformity, or, if appropriate, to withdraw or recall it. Furthermore, where the product presents a risk, manufacturers shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States in which they made the construction product available to that effect, giving details, in particular, of the non-compliance and of any corrective measures taken.

8.   Manufacturers shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent national authority, provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the construction product with the declaration of performance and compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, in a language which can be easily understood by that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by construction products which they have placed on the market.

1.   A manufacturer may appoint, by written mandate, an authorised representative.

The drawing up of technical documentation shall not form part of the authorised representative’s mandate.

2.   An authorised representative shall perform the tasks specified in the mandate. The mandate shall allow the authorised representative to carry out at least the following tasks:

1.   Importers shall place on the Union market only construction products which are compliant with the applicable requirements of this Regulation.

2.   Before placing a construction product on the market, importers shall ensure that the assessment and the verification of constancy of performance has been carried out by the manufacturer. They shall ensure that the manufacturer has drawn up the technical documentation referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 11(1) and the declaration of performance in accordance with Articles 4 and 6. They shall also ensure that the product, where required, bears the CE marking, that the product is accompanied by the required documents and that the manufacturer has complied with the requirements set out in Article 11(4) and (5).

Where an importer considers or has reason to believe that the construction product is not in conformity with the declaration of performance or not in compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, the importer shall not place the construction product on the market until it conforms to the accompanying declaration of performance and it complies with the other applicable requirements in this Regulation or until the declaration of performance is corrected. Furthermore, where the construction product presents a risk, the importer shall inform the manufacturer and the market surveillance authorities thereof.

3.   Importers shall indicate on the construction product or, where that is not possible, on its packaging or in a document accompanying the product their name, registered trade name or registered trade mark and their contact address.

4.   Importers shall ensure that, when making a construction product available on the market, the product is accompanied by instructions and safety information in a language determined by the Member State concerned which can be easily understood by users.

5.   Importers shall ensure that, while a construction product is under their responsibility, storage or transport conditions do not jeopardise its conformity with the declaration of performance and compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation.

6.   Importers shall, when deemed appropriate with regard to ensuring the accuracy, reliability and stability of the declared performance of a construction product, carry out sample testing of construction products placed or made available on the market, investigate, and, if necessary, keep a register of complaints, of non-conforming products and of product recalls, and shall keep distributors informed of any such monitoring.

7.   Importers who consider or have reason to believe that a construction product which they have placed on the market is not in conformity with the declaration of performance or not in compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, shall immediately take the necessary corrective measures to bring that construction product into conformity, or, where appropriate, to withdraw or recall it. Furthermore, where the product presents a risk, importers shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States in which they made the construction product available thereof, giving details, in particular, of the non-compliance and of any corrective measures taken.

8.   Importers shall, for the period referred to in Article 11(2), keep a copy of the declaration of performance at the disposal of the market surveillance authorities and ensure that the technical documentation is made available to those authorities, upon request.

9.   Importers shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent national authority, provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the construction product with the declaration of performance and compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, in a language which can be easily understood by that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by construction products which they have placed on the market.

1.   When making a construction product available on the market, distributors shall act with due care in relation to the requirements of this Regulation.

2.   Before making a construction product available on the market distributors shall ensure that the product, where required, bears the CE marking and is accompanied by the documents required under this Regulation and by instructions and safety information in a language determined by the Member State concerned which can be easily understood by users. Distributors shall also ensure that the manufacturer and the importer have complied with the requirements set out in Article 11(4) and (5) and Article 13(3) respectively.

Where a distributor considers or has reason to believe that a construction product is not in conformity with the declaration of performance or not in compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, the distributor shall not make the product available on the market until it conforms to the accompanying declaration of performance and it complies with the other applicable requirements in this Regulation or until the declaration of performance is corrected. Furthermore, where the product presents a risk, the distributor shall inform the manufacturer or the importer thereof, and the market surveillance authorities.

3.   A distributor shall ensure that, while a construction product is under his responsibility, storage or transport conditions do not jeopardise its conformity with the declaration of performance and compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation.

4.   Distributors who consider or have reason to believe that a construction product which they have made available on the market is not in conformity with the declaration of performance or not in compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation, shall make sure that the corrective measures necessary to bring that product in conformity, to withdraw it or recall it, as appropriate, are taken. Furthermore, where the product presents a risk, distributors shall immediately inform the competent national authorities of the Member States in which they made the product available thereof, giving details, in particular, of the non-compliance and of any corrective measures taken.

5.   Distributors shall, further to a reasoned request from a competent national authority, provide it with all the information and documentation necessary to demonstrate the conformity of the construction product with the declaration of performance and compliance with other applicable requirements in this Regulation in a language which can be easily understood by that authority. They shall cooperate with that authority, at its request, on any action taken to eliminate the risks posed by construction products which they have made available on the market.

1.   Harmonised standards shall be established by the European standardisation bodies listed in Annex I to Directive 98/34/EC on the basis of requests (hereinafter referred to as ‘mandates’) issued by the Commission in accordance with Article 6 of that Directive after having consulted the Standing Committee on Construction referred to in Article 64 of this Regulation (hereinafter referred to as ‘Standing Committee on Construction’).

2.   Where stakeholders are involved in the process of developing harmonised standards pursuant to this Article, the European standardisation bodies shall ensure that the various categories of stakeholders are in all instances represented in a fair and equitable manner.

3.   Harmonised standards shall provide the methods and the criteria for assessing the performance of the construction products in relation to their essential characteristics.

When provided for in the relevant mandate, a harmonised standard shall refer to an intended use of products to be covered by it.

Harmonised standards shall, where appropriate and without endangering the accuracy, reliability or stability of the results, provide methods less onerous than testing for assessing the performance of the construction products in relation to their essential characteristics.

4.   The European standardisation bodies shall determine in harmonised standards the applicable factory production control, which shall take into account the specific conditions of the manufacturing process of the construction product concerned.

The harmonised standard shall include technical details necessary for the implementation of the system of assessment and verification of constancy of performance.

5.   The Commission shall assess the conformity of harmonised standards established by the European standardisation bodies with the relevant mandates.

The Commission shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union the list of references of harmonised standards which are in conformity with the relevant mandates.

The following shall be indicated for each harmonised standard in the list:

The Commission shall publish any updates to that list.

From the date of the beginning of the coexistence period it shall be possible to use a harmonised standard to make a declaration of performance for a construction product covered by it. National standardisation bodies are under the obligation to transpose the harmonised standards in conformity with Directive 98/34/EC.

Without prejudice to Articles 36 to 38, from the date of the end of the coexistence period, the harmonised standard shall be the only means used for drawing up a declaration of performance for a construction product covered by it.

At the end of the coexistence period, conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn and Member States shall terminate the validity of all conflicting national provisions.

1.   When a Member State or the Commission considers that a harmonised standard does not entirely satisfy the requirements set out in the relevant mandate, the Member State concerned or the Commission, after having consulted the Standing Committee on Construction, shall bring the matter before the Committee set up pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 98/34/EC, giving its arguments. That Committee shall, after having consulted the relevant European standardisation bodies deliver its opinion without delay.

2.   In the light of the opinion of the Committee set up pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 98/34/EC, the Commission shall decide to publish, not to publish, to publish with restriction, to maintain, to maintain with restriction or to withdraw the references to the harmonised standard concerned in the Official Journal of the European Union.

3.   The Commission shall inform the European standardisation body concerned of its decision and, if necessary, request the revision of the harmonised standard concerned.

1.   Following a request for a European Technical Assessment by a manufacturer, a European Assessment Document shall be drawn up and adopted by the organisation of TABs for any construction product not covered or not fully covered by a harmonised standard, for which the performance in relation to its essential characteristics cannot be entirely assessed according to an existing harmonised standard, because, inter alia:

2.   The procedure for adopting the European Assessment Document shall respect the principles set out in Article 20 and shall comply with Article 21 and Annex II.

3.   The Commission may adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 60 to amend Annex II and establish supplementary procedural rules for the development and adoption of a European Assessment Document.

4.   Where appropriate, the Commission, after having consulted the Standing Committee on Construction, shall take existing European Assessment Documents as a basis for the mandates to be issued pursuant to Article 17(1) with a view to developing harmonised standards as regards the products referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

1.   The procedure for developing and adopting European Assessment Documents shall:

2.   The TABs shall, together with the organisation of TABs, bear the full costs of the development and adoption of European Assessment Documents.

1.   The TAB receiving a request for a European Technical Assessment shall inform the manufacturer if the construction product is covered, fully or partially, by a harmonised technical specification as follows:

2.   In the cases referred to in points (b) and (c) of paragraph 1, the TAB shall inform the organisation of TABs and the Commission of the content of the request and of the reference to a relevant Commission decision for assessment and verification of constancy of performance, which the TAB intends to apply for that product, or of the lack of such a Commission decision.

3.   If the Commission considers that an appropriate decision for assessment and verification of constancy of performance does not exist for the construction product, Article 28 shall apply.

1.   A European Assessment Document shall contain, at least, a general description of the construction product, the list of essential characteristics, relevant for the intended use of the product as foreseen by the manufacturer and agreed between the manufacturer and the organisation of TABs, as well as the methods and criteria for assessing the performance of the product in relation to those essential characteristics.

2.   Principles for the applicable factory production control to be applied shall be set out in the European Assessment Document, taking into account the conditions of the manufacturing process of the construction product concerned.

3.   Where the performance of some of the essential characteristics of the product can appropriately be assessed with methods and criteria already established in other harmonised technical specifications or the Guidelines referred to in Article 66(3), or used in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 89/106/EEC before 1 July 2013 in the context of issuing European technical approvals, those existing methods and criteria shall be incorporated as parts of the European Assessment Document.

1.   Where a Member State or the Commission considers that a European Assessment Document does not entirely satisfy the demands to be met in relation to the basic requirements for construction works set out in Annex I, the Member State concerned or the Commission shall bring the matter before the Standing Committee on Construction, giving its arguments. The Standing Committee on Construction shall, after having consulted the organisation of TABs, deliver its opinion without delay.

2.   In the light of the opinion of the Standing Committee on Construction, the Commission shall decide to publish, not to publish, to publish with restriction, to maintain, to maintain with restriction or to withdraw the references to the European Assessment Documents concerned in the Official Journal of the European Union.

3.   The Commission shall inform the organisation of TABs accordingly and, if necessary, request the revision of the European Assessment Document concerned.

1.   The European Technical Assessment shall be issued by a TAB, at the request of a manufacturer on the basis of a European Assessment Document established in accordance with the procedures set out in Article 21 and Annex II.

Provided that there is a European Assessment Document, a European Technical Assessment may be issued even in the case where a mandate for a harmonised standard has been issued. Such issuing shall be possible until the beginning of the coexistence period as determined by the Commission in accordance with Article 17(5).

2.   The European Technical Assessment shall include the performance to be declared, by levels or classes, or in a description, of those essential characteristics agreed by the manufacturer and the TAB receiving the request for the European Technical Assessment for the declared intended use, and technical details necessary for the implementation of the system of assessment and verification of constancy of performance.

3.   In order to ensure the uniform implementation of this Article, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts to establish the format of the European Technical Assessment in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 64(2).

1.   The Commission may adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, to establish classes of performance in relation to the essential characteristics of construction products.

2.   Where the Commission has established classes of performance in relation to the essential characteristics of construction products, the European standardisation bodies shall use those classes in harmonised standards. The organisation of TABs shall where relevant use those classes in European Assessment Documents.

Where classes of performance in relation to the essential characteristics of construction products are not established by the Commission, they may be established by the European standardisation bodies in harmonised standards, on the basis of a revised mandate.

3.   When provided for in the relevant mandates, the European standardisation bodies shall establish in harmonised standards threshold levels in relation to essential characteristics and, when appropriate, for intended uses, to be fulfilled by construction products in Member States.

4.   Where the European standardisation bodies have established classes of performance in a harmonised standard, the organisation of TABs shall use those classes in the European Assessment Documents where they are relevant for the construction product.

When deemed appropriate, the organisation of TABs may, with the agreement of the Commission and after consulting the Standing Committee on Construction, establish in the European Assessment Document classes of performance and threshold levels in relation to the essential characteristics of a construction product within its intended use as foreseen by the manufacturer.

5.   The Commission may adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, to establish conditions under which a construction product shall be deemed to satisfy a certain level or class of performance without testing or without further testing.

Where such conditions are not established by the Commission, they may be established by the European standardisation bodies in harmonised standards, on the basis of a revised mandate.

6.   When the Commission has established classification systems in accordance with paragraph 1, Member States may determine the levels or classes of performance to be respected by construction products in relation to their essential characteristics only in accordance with those classification systems.

7.   The European standardisation bodies and the organisation of TABs shall respect the regulatory needs of Member States when determining threshold levels or classes of performance.

1.   Assessment and verification of constancy of performance of construction products in relation to their essential characteristics shall be carried out in accordance with one of the systems set out in Annex V.

2.   By means of delegated acts in accordance with Article 60, the Commission shall establish and may revise, taking into account in particular the effect on the health and safety of people, and on the environment, which system or systems are applicable to a given construction product or family of construction products or a given essential characteristic. In doing so, the Commission shall also take into account the documented experiences forwarded by national authorities with regard to market surveillance.

The Commission shall choose the least onerous system or systems consistent with the fulfilment of all basic requirements for construction works.

3.   The system or systems thus determined shall be indicated in the mandates for harmonised standards and in the harmonised technical specifications.

1.   Member States may designate TABs within their territories, notably for one or several product areas listed in Table 1 of Annex IV.

Member States which have designated a TAB shall communicate to the other Member States and the Commission its name and address and the product areas for which that TAB is designated.

2.   The Commission shall make publicly available by electronic means the list of TABs indicating the product areas for which they are designated, endeavouring to achieve the highest possible level of transparency.

The Commission shall make any updates to that list publicly available.

3.   Member States shall monitor the activities and competence of the TABs they have designated, and evaluate them in relation to the respective requirements set out in Table 2 of Annex IV.

Member States shall inform the Commission of their national procedures for the designation of TABs, of the monitoring of their activity and competence, and of any changes to that information.

4.   The Commission shall adopt guidelines for carrying out the evaluation of TABs, after consulting the Standing Committee on Construction.

1.   A TAB shall carry out the assessment and issue the European Technical Assessment in a product area for which it has been designated.

The TAB shall satisfy the requirements set out in Table 2 of Annex IV within the scope of its designation.

2.   A TAB shall make publicly available its organigram and the names of the members of its internal decision-making bodies.

3.   Where a TAB no longer complies with the requirements referred to in paragraph 1, the Member State shall withdraw the designation of that TAB for the relevant product area and inform the Commission and the other Member States thereof.

1.   The TABs shall establish an organisation for technical assessment.

2.   The organisation of TABs shall be considered a body pursuing an aim of general European interest within the meaning of Article 162 of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (15).

3.   The common cooperation objectives and the administrative and financial conditions relating to the grants awarded to the organisation of TABs may be defined in a framework partnership agreement signed by the Commission and that organisation, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (16) (the Financial Regulation) and Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002. The European Parliament and the Council shall be informed of the conclusion of any such agreement.

4.   The organisation of TABs shall at least carry out the following tasks:

The organisation of TABs shall have a Secretariat in order to carry out these tasks.

5.   Member States shall ensure that the TABs contribute with financial and human resources to the organisation of TABs.

1.   Union financing may be granted to the organisation of TABs for the implementation of the tasks referred to in Article 31(4).

2.   The appropriations allocated to the tasks set out in Article 31(4) shall be determined each year by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework in force.

1.   Union financing shall be provided, without a call for proposals, to the organisation of TABs to carry out the tasks referred to in Article 31(4) for which grants can be awarded in accordance with the Financial Regulation.

2.   The activities of the Secretariat of the organisation of TABs, referred to in Article 31(4), may be financed on the basis of operating grants. In the event of renewal, the operating grants shall not be decreased automatically.

3.   Grant agreements may authorise flat-rate cover of the beneficiary’s overheads up to a maximum of 10 % of total eligible direct costs for actions, except where the beneficiary’s indirect costs are covered by an operating grant financed from the general budget of the Union.

1.   The appropriations determined by the budgetary authority for the financing of tasks set out in Article 31(4) may also cover administrative expenses relating to preparation, monitoring, inspection, auditing and evaluation which are directly necessary for the achievement of the objectives of this Regulation, and in particular studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenses relating to informatics networks for the exchange of information and any other expenditure on administrative and technical assistance which the Commission may use for activities related to the development and adoption of European Assessment Documents and the issuing of European Technical Assessments.

2.   The Commission shall evaluate the relevance of the tasks set out in Article 31(4) that receive Union financing in the light of the requirements of Union policies and legislation, and inform the European Parliament and the Council of the outcome of that evaluation by 1 January 2017 and every 4 years thereafter.

1.   The Commission shall ensure that when the activities financed under this Regulation are implemented, the Union’s financial interests are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and other illegal activities, by effective checks and by the recovery of amounts unduly paid and, if irregularities are detected, by effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties, in accordance with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities’ financial interests (17), Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (18) and Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) (19).

2.   For the activities financed under this Regulation, the notion of irregularity referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 shall mean any infringement of a provision of Union law or any breach of a contractual obligation resulting from an act or omission by an economic operator which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the Union or budgets managed by it by an unjustified item of expenditure.

3.   Any agreements and contracts resulting from this Regulation shall provide for monitoring and financial control by the Commission or any representative which it authorises and for audits by the Court of Auditors, which, if necessary, may be conducted on-the-spot.

1.   In determining the product-type, a manufacturer may replace type-testing or type-calculation by Appropriate Technical Documentation demonstrating that:

2.   If the construction product referred to in paragraph 1 belongs to a family of construction products for which the applicable system for assessment and verification of constancy of performance is system 1 + or 1, as set out in Annex V, the Appropriate Technical Documentation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be verified by a notified product certification body as referred to in Annex V.

1.   In relation to construction products covered by a harmonised standard and which are individually manufactured or custom-made in a non-series process in response to a specific order, and which are installed in a single identified construction work, the performance assessment part of the applicable system, as set out in Annex V, may be replaced by the manufacturer by Specific Technical Documentation demonstrating compliance of that product with the applicable requirements and equivalence of the procedures used to the procedures laid down in the harmonised standards.

2.   If the construction product referred to in paragraph 1 belongs to a family of construction products for which the applicable system for assessment and verification of constancy of performance is system 1 + or 1, as set out in Annex V, the Specific Technical Documentation shall be verified by a notified product certification body as referred to in Annex V.

1.   Member States shall designate a notifying authority that shall be responsible for setting up and carrying out the necessary procedures for the assessment and notification of the bodies to be authorised to carry out third-party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance for the purposes of this Regulation, and for the monitoring of notified bodies, including their compliance with Article 43.

2.   Member States may decide that the assessment and monitoring referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out by their national accreditation bodies within the meaning of, and in accordance with, Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.

3.   Where the notifying authority delegates or otherwise entrusts the assessment, notification or monitoring referred to in paragraph 1 to a body which is not a governmental entity, that body shall be a legal entity and shall comply mutatis mutandis with the requirements laid down in Article 41. In addition, it shall have arrangements to cover liabilities arising from its activities.

4.   The notifying authority shall take full responsibility for the tasks performed by the body referred to in paragraph 3.

1.   The notifying authority shall be established in such a way that no conflicts of interest with notified bodies occur.

2.   The notifying authority shall be organised and operated so as to safeguard the objectivity and impartiality of its activities.

3.   The notifying authority shall be organised in such a way that each decision relating to notification of a body to be authorised to carry out third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance is taken by competent persons different from those who carried out the assessment.

4.   The notifying authority shall not offer or provide activities performed by notified bodies, or consultancy services on a commercial or competitive basis.

5.   The notifying authority shall safeguard the confidentiality of the information obtained.

6.   The notifying authority shall have a sufficient number of competent personnel at its disposal for the proper performance of its tasks.

1.   For the purposes of notification, a notified body shall meet the requirements set out in paragraphs 2 to 11.

2.   A notified body shall be established under national law and have legal personality.

3.   A notified body shall be a third-party body independent from the organisation or the construction product it assesses.

A body belonging to a business association or professional federation representing undertakings involved in the design, manufacturing, provision, assembly, use or maintenance of construction products which it assesses, can on condition that its independence and the absence of any conflict of interest are demonstrated, be considered to be such a body.

4.   A notified body, its top-level management and the personnel responsible for carrying out the third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance shall not be the designer, manufacturer, supplier, installer, purchaser, owner, user or maintainer of the construction products which it assesses, nor the authorised representative of any of those parties. This shall not preclude the use of assessed products that are necessary for the operations of the notified body or the use of products for personal purposes.

A notified body, its top-level management and the personnel responsible for carrying out the third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance shall not become directly involved in the design, manufacture or construction, marketing, installation, use or maintenance of those construction products, nor represent the parties engaged in those activities. They shall not engage in any activity that may conflict with their independence of judgement and integrity related to the activities for which they have been notified. This shall, in particular, apply to consultancy services.

A notified body shall ensure that activities of its subsidiaries or subcontractors do not affect the confidentiality, objectivity and impartiality of its assessment and/or verification activities.

5.   A notified body and its personnel shall carry out the third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance with the highest degree of professional integrity and requisite technical competence in the specific field and must be free from all pressures and inducements, particularly financial, which might influence their judgement or the results of their assessment and/or verification activities, especially from persons or groups of persons with an interest in the results of those activities.

6.   A notified body shall be capable of carrying out all the third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance assigned to it in accordance with Annex V in relation to which it has been notified, whether those tasks are carried out by the notified body itself or on its behalf and under its responsibility.

At all times and for each system of assessment and verification of constancy of performance and for each kind or category of construction products, essential characteristics and tasks in relation to which it has been notified, the notified body shall have the following at its disposal:

A notified body shall have the means necessary to perform the technical and administrative tasks connected with the activities for which it is notified in an appropriate manner and shall have access to all necessary equipment or facilities.

7.   The personnel responsible for carrying out the activities in relation to which the body has been notified, shall have the following:

8.   The impartiality of the notified body, its top-level management and assessment personnel shall be guaranteed.

The remuneration of the notified body’s top-level management and assessment personnel shall not depend on the number of assessments carried out or on the results of such assessments.

9.   A notified body shall take out liability insurance unless liability is assumed by the Member State in accordance with national law, or the Member State itself is directly responsible for the assessment and/or the verification performed.

10.   The personnel of the notified body shall be bound to observe professional secrecy with regard to all information gained in carrying out its tasks under Annex V, except in relation to the competent administrative authorities of the Member State in which its activities are carried out. Proprietary rights shall be protected.

11.   A notified body shall participate in, or ensure that its assessment personnel is informed of, the relevant standardisation activities and the activities of the notified body coordination group established under this Regulation and shall apply as general guidance the administrative decisions and documents produced as a work result of that group.

1.   Where a notified body subcontracts specific tasks connected with the third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance or has recourse to a subsidiary, it shall ensure that the subcontractor or the subsidiary meets the requirements set out in Article 43, and shall inform the notifying authority accordingly.

2.   The notified body shall take full responsibility for the tasks performed by subcontractors or subsidiaries wherever these are established.

3.   Activities may be subcontracted or carried out by a subsidiary only with the agreement of the client.

4.   The notified body shall keep at the disposal of the notifying authority the relevant documents concerning the assessment of the qualifications of any subcontractor or the subsidiary and the tasks carried out by such parties under Annex V.

1.   On request of the manufacturer and where justified by technical, economic or logistic reasons, notified bodies may decide to carry out the tests referred to in Annex V, for the systems of assessment and verification of constancy of performance 1+, 1 and 3 or have such tests carried out under their supervision, either in the manufacturing plants using the test equipments of the internal laboratory of the manufacturer or, with the prior consent of the manufacturer, in an external laboratory, using the test equipments of that laboratory.

Notified bodies carrying out such tests shall be specifically designated as competent to work away from their own accredited test facilities.

2.   Before carrying out those tests, the notified body shall verify whether the requirements of the test method are satisfied and shall evaluate whether:

1.   A body to be authorised to carry out third party tasks in the process of assessment and verification of constancy of performance shall submit an application for notification to the notifying authority of the Member State in which it is established.

2.   The application shall be accompanied by a description of the activities to be performed, the assessment and/or verification procedures for which the body claims to be competent, an accreditation certificate, where one exists, issued by the national accreditation body within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, attesting that the body meets the requirements laid down in Article 43.

3.   Where the body concerned cannot provide an accreditation certificate, it shall provide the notifying authority with all documentary evidence necessary for the verification, recognition and regular monitoring of its compliance with the requirements laid down in Article 43.

1.   Notifying authorities may notify only bodies which have satisfied the requirements laid down in Article 43.

2.   They shall notify the Commission and the other Member States, notably using the electronic notification tool developed and managed by the Commission.

Exceptionally, for cases set out in point 3 of Annex V, for which the appropriate electronic tool is not available, a hard copy of the notification shall be accepted.

3.   The notification shall include full details of the functions to be performed, reference to the relevant harmonised technical specification and, for the purposes of the system set out in Annex V, the essential characteristics for which the body is competent.

However, reference to the relevant harmonised technical specification is not required in the cases set out in point 3 of Annex V.

4.   Where a notification is not based on an accreditation certificate as referred to in Article 47(2), the notifying authority shall provide the Commission and the other Member States with all documentary evidence which attests to the notified body’s competence and the arrangements in place to ensure that that body will be monitored regularly and will continue to satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 43.

5.   The body concerned may perform the activities of a notified body only where no objections are raised by the Commission or the other Member States within 2 weeks of notification where an accreditation certificate is used or within 2 months of notification where an accreditation certificate is not used.

Only such a body shall be considered as a notified body for the purpose of this Regulation.

6.   The Commission and the other Member States shall be notified of any subsequent relevant changes to the notification.

1.   The Commission shall assign an identification number to each notified body.

It shall assign a single such number even where the body is notified under several Union acts.

2.   The Commission shall make publicly available the list of bodies notified under this Regulation, including the identification numbers that have been allocated to them and the activities for which they have been notified, notably using the electronic notification tool developed and managed by the Commission.

The Commission shall ensure that this list is kept up-to-date.

1.   Where a notifying authority has ascertained or has been informed that a notified body no longer meets the requirements laid down in Article 43, or that it is failing to fulfil its obligations, the notifying authority shall restrict, suspend or withdraw the notification as appropriate, depending on the seriousness of the failure to meet those requirements or to fulfil those obligations. It shall immediately inform the Commission and the other Member States accordingly, notably using the electronic notification tool developed and managed by the Commission.

2.   In the event of withdrawal, restriction or suspension of notification or where the notified body has ceased its activity, the notifying Member State concerned shall take the appropriate steps to ensure that the files of that body are either processed by another notified body or kept available for the responsible notifying and market surveillance authorities at their request.

1.   The Commission shall investigate all cases where it doubts, or doubt is brought to its attention regarding, the competence of a notified body or the continued fulfilment by a notified body of the requirements and responsibilities to which it is subject.

2.   The notifying Member State shall provide the Commission, on request, with all information related to the basis for notification or the maintenance of the competence of the body concerned.

3.   The Commission shall ensure that all sensitive information obtained in the course of its investigations is treated confidentially.

4.   Where the Commission ascertains that a notified body does not meet, or no longer meets, the requirements for its notification, it shall inform the notifying Member State accordingly and request it to take the necessary corrective measures, including withdrawal of notification, if necessary.

1.   Notified bodies shall carry out third party tasks in accordance with the systems of assessment and verification of constancy of performance provided for in Annex V.

2.   Assessments and verifications of constancy of performance shall be carried out with transparency as regards the manufacturer, and in a proportionate manner, avoiding an unnecessary burden for economic operators. The notified bodies shall perform their activities taking due account of the size of the undertaking, the sector in which the undertaking operates, its structure, the degree of complexity of the product technology in question and the mass or serial nature of the production process.

In so doing, the notified bodies shall nevertheless respect the degree of rigour required for the product by this Regulation and the part played by the product for the fulfilment of all basic requirements for construction works.

3.   Where, in the course of the initial inspection of the manufacturing plant and of factory production control, a notified body finds that the manufacturer has not ensured the constancy of performance of the manufactured product, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall not issue a certificate.

4.   Where, in the course of the monitoring activity aiming at the verification of the constancy of performance of the manufactured product, a notified body finds that a construction product no longer has the same performance to that of the product-type, it shall require the manufacturer to take appropriate corrective measures and shall suspend or withdraw its certificate if necessary.

5.   Where corrective measures are not taken or do not have the required effect, the notified body shall restrict, suspend or withdraw any certificates, as appropriate.

1.   Notified bodies shall inform the notifying authority of the following:

2.   Notified bodies shall provide the other bodies notified under this Regulation carrying out similar third party tasks in accordance with the systems of assessment and verification of constancy of performance and for construction products covered by the same harmonised technical specification with relevant information on issues relating to negative and, on request, positive results from these assessments and/or verifications.

1.   Where the market surveillance authorities of one Member State have taken action pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 or where they have sufficient reason to believe that a construction product covered by a harmonised standard or for which a European Technical Assessment has been issued does not achieve the declared performance and presents a risk for the fulfilment of the basic requirements for construction works covered by this Regulation, they shall carry out an evaluation in relation to the product concerned covering the respective requirements laid down by this Regulation. The relevant economic operators shall cooperate as necessary with the market surveillance authorities.

Where, in the course of that evaluation, the market surveillance authorities find that the construction product does not comply with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, they shall without delay require the relevant economic operator to take all appropriate corrective actions to bring the product into compliance with those requirements, notably with the declared performance, or to withdraw the product from the market, or recall it within a reasonable period, commensurate with the nature of the risk, as they may prescribe.

The market surveillance authorities shall inform the notified body accordingly, if a notified body is involved.

Article 21 of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 shall apply to the measures referred to in the second subparagraph of this paragraph.

2.   Where the market surveillance authorities consider that the non-compliance is not limited to their national territory, they shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of the results of the evaluation and of the actions which they have required the economic operator to take.

3.   The economic operator shall ensure that all appropriate corrective action is taken in respect of all the construction products concerned which that economic operator has made available on the market throughout the Union.

4.   Where the relevant economic operator, within the period referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, does not take adequate corrective action, the market surveillance authorities shall take all appropriate provisional measures to prohibit or restrict the making available of the construction product on the national market or to withdraw the construction product from that market or to recall it.

The market surveillance authorities shall inform the Commission and the other Member States, without delay, of those measures.

5.   The information referred to in paragraph 4 shall include all available details, in particular the data necessary for the identification of the non-compliant construction product, the origin of the construction product, the nature of the non-compliance alleged and the risk involved, the nature and duration of national measures taken as well as the arguments put forward by the relevant economic operator. In particular, the market surveillance authorities shall indicate whether the non-compliance is due to either of the following:

6.   Member States other than the Member State initiating the procedure shall without delay inform the Commission and the other Member States of any measures adopted and of any additional information at their disposal relating to the non-compliance of the construction product concerned, and, in the event of disagreement with the notified national measure, of their objections.

7.   Where, within 15 working days of receipt of the information referred to in paragraph 4, no objection has been raised by either a Member State or the Commission in respect of a provisional measure taken by a Member State in relation to the construction product concerned, that measure shall be deemed justified.

8.   Member States shall ensure that appropriate restrictive measures are taken without delay in respect of the construction product concerned, such as withdrawal of the product from their market.

1.   Where, on completion of the procedure set out in Article 56(3) and (4), objections are raised against a measure taken by a Member State or where the Commission considers a national measure to be contrary to Union legislation, the Commission shall without delay enter into consultation with the Member States and the relevant economic operator(s) and shall evaluate the national measure. On the basis of the results of that evaluation, the Commission shall decide whether the measure is justified or not.

The Commission shall address its decision to all Member States and shall immediately communicate it to them and to the relevant economic operator(s).

2.   If the national measure is considered justified, all Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the non-compliant construction product is withdrawn from their markets and shall inform the Commission accordingly. If the national measure is considered unjustified, the Member State concerned shall withdraw the measure.

3.   Where the national measure is considered to be justified and the non-compliance of the construction product is attributed to shortcomings in the harmonised standards as referred to in Article 56(5)(b), the Commission shall inform the relevant European standardisation body or bodies and shall bring the matter before the Committee set up pursuant to Article 5 of Directive 98/34/EC. That Committee shall consult with the relevant European standardisation body or bodies and deliver its opinion without delay.

Where the national measure is considered to be justified and the non-compliance of the construction product is attributed to shortcomings in the European Assessment Document or in the Specific Technical Documentation as referred to in Article 56(5)(b), the Commission shall bring the matter before the Standing Committee on Construction and subsequently adopt the appropriate measures.

1.   Where, having performed an evaluation pursuant to Article 56(1), a Member State finds that, although a construction product is in compliance with this Regulation, it presents a risk for the fulfilment of the basic requirements for construction works, to the health or safety of persons or to other aspects of public interest protection, it shall require the relevant economic operator to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the construction product concerned, when placed on the market, no longer presents that risk, to withdraw the construction product from the market or to recall it within a reasonable period, commensurate with the nature of the risk, which it may prescribe.

2.   The economic operator shall ensure that any corrective action is taken in respect of all the construction products concerned which that economic operator has made available on the market throughout the Union.

3.   The Member State shall immediately inform the Commission and the other Member States. That information shall include all available details, in particular the data necessary for the identification of the construction product concerned, the origin and the supply chain of the product, the nature of the risk involved and the nature and duration of the national measures taken.

4.   The Commission shall without delay enter into consultation with the Member States and the relevant economic operator(s) and shall evaluate the national measures taken. On the basis of the results of that evaluation, the Commission shall decide whether the measure is justified or not and, where necessary, propose appropriate measures.

5.   The Commission shall address its decision to all Member States and shall immediately communicate it to them and to the relevant economic operator(s).

1.   Without prejudice to Article 56, where a Member State makes one of the following findings, it shall require the relevant economic operator to put an end to the non-compliance concerned:

2.   Where the non-compliance referred to in paragraph 1 continues, the Member State shall take all appropriate measures to restrict or prohibit the making available on the market of the construction product or ensure that it is recalled or withdrawn from the market.

1.   The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 60 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 5 years from 24 April 2011. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegated power at the latest 6 months before the end of the 5-year period. The delegation of power shall be automatically extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council revokes it in accordance with Article 62.

2.   As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

3.   The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in Articles 62 and 63.

1.   The delegation of power referred to in Article 60 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council.

2.   The institution which has commenced an internal procedure for deciding whether to revoke the delegation of power shall endeavour to inform the other institution and the Commission within a reasonable time before the final decision is taken, indicating the delegated power which could be subject to revocation and possible reasons for a revocation.

3.   The decision of revocation shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect immediately or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of the delegated acts already in force. It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1.   The European Parliament or the Council may object to a delegated act within a period of 3 months from the date of notification.

At the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council, that period shall be extended by 3 months.

2.   If, on expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1, neither the European Parliament nor the Council has objected to the delegated act, it shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and shall enter into force on the date stated therein.

The delegated act may be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force before the expiry of that period if the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission of their intention not to raise objections.

3.   If either the European Parliament or the Council objects to a delegated act within the period referred to in paragraph 1, it shall not enter into force. The institution which objects shall state the reasons for objecting to the delegated act.

1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a Standing Committee on Construction.

2.   Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

3.   Member States shall ensure that the members of the Standing Committee on Construction are able to carry out their functions in a manner that avoids conflicts of interest, particularly in respect of the procedures for obtaining the CE marking.

1.   Directive 89/106/EEC is repealed.

2.   References to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Regulation.

1.   Construction products which have been placed on the market in accordance with Directive 89/106/EEC before 1 July 2013 shall be deemed to comply with this Regulation.

2.   Manufacturers may draw up a declaration of performance on the basis of a certificate of conformity or a declaration of conformity, which has been issued before 1 July 2013 in accordance with Directive 89/106/EEC.

3.   Guidelines for European technical approval published before 1 July 2013 in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 89/106/EEC may be used as European Assessment Documents.

4.   Manufacturers and importers may use European technical approvals issued in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 89/106/EEC before 1 July 2013 as European Technical Assessments throughout the period of validity of those approvals.

1.   By 25 April 2014, the Commission shall assess the specific need for information on the content of hazardous substances in construction products and consider the possible extension of the information obligation provided for in Article 6(5) to other substances, and shall report thereon to the European Parliament and to the Council. In its assessment, the Commission shall take into account, inter alia, the need to ensure a high level of protection of the health and safety of workers using construction products and of users of construction works, including with regard to recycling and/or reuse requirements of parts or materials.

If appropriate, the report shall, within 2 years of its submission to the European Parliament and to the Council, be followed up by appropriate legislative proposals.

2.   By 25 April 2016, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the implementation of this Regulation, including on Articles 19, 20, 21, 23, 24 and 37 on the basis of reports provided by Member States, as well as by other relevant stakeholders, accompanied, where relevant, by appropriate proposals.