The European Rebar Council (ERC), a sectorial alliance of EuCIA, has issued a letter expressing strong support for the implementation of CE marking via European Technical Assessments (ETAs) to harmonise marketing conditions for construction products across Europe.
In the letter addressed to the European Commission, the European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA), and construction industry stakeholders, the ERC states that adopting CE marking through the ETA route is crucial to eliminate technical barriers to trade across EU member states, ensuring that products can circulate freely in the single European market in accordance with EU principles. This approach aligns with the aims of the Construction Products Regulation to provide a ‘passport’ for construction products via the CE mark, enabling their free movement throughout all member countries.
CE marking via ETA is especially important for innovative or non-standard construction products that are not yet covered by harmonised European standards. In the absence of a harmonised standard, the ETA procedure provides a rigorous and unified pathway for manufacturers to demonstrate their product’s performance and compliance. This allows new technologies such as composite rebar to gain acceptance across the EU without encountering disparate national approval requirements.
The ERC believes this harmonised framework is essential not only for eliminating unjustified trade barriers but also for ensuring that construction products – including novel and high-performance materials – meet appropriate performance, quality and safety benchmarks Europe-wide. It supports the efforts of the European Commission and EOTA in facilitating the ETA process and developing the necessary assessment documents, stands ready to assist in this endeavour to enable material innovation in Europe, and urges all relevant authorities and stakeholders to continue embracing CE marking through ETAs as a reliable means to streamline market access and uphold the principles of the European Single Market. By doing so, we can together guarantee that critical construction components such as reinforcing steel and composite rebar are assessed to common standards, and can circulate without hindrance, to the benefit of the entire construction industry and the safety of our built environment.
Download the ERC letter on CE marking
Composite rebar
Composite rebar is a competitive, performing and reliable alternative to steel in the building, construction and infrastructure industries and offers a significant market opportunity for composite materials.
Launched in 2025, the ERC aims to promote the adoption of composite rebar in Europe by:
- Driving standardisation and certification efforts;
- Facilitating industry collaboration and knowledge sharing;
- Engaging in policy advocacy at EU and national levels;
- Educating stakeholders on benefits and applications.
Follow the ERC on LinkedIn.
