From 1st July 2013, under the Construction Products Regulation 2011 (CPR), it is compulsary for manufacturers to draw up a declaration of performance and apply CE marking to any of their construction products which is covered by a harmonised European standard (hEN) or conforms to a European Technical Assessment (ETA) which has been issued for it, if this product is placed on the market within the EU. Failure to do so will mean that this product will no longer be eligible for sale within the EU.
This is a major change as affixing of CE marking under the provisions of the previous Construction Products Directive (CPD) was voluntary in the UK. For those who were already CE marking under the CPD, the transition should be straightforward.