Applying for a European Technical
Assessment (ETA)
Procedure
If you are an actor in the construction industry and you wish to initiate the process with a view to obtaining a European Technical Assessment, ETA, you are strongly advised to take note of the following points in order to optimize the procedure from the point of view of costs and delays.
The European Technical Assessment, ETA, is a legal instrument created by the European Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) N° 305/2011. It is an alternative route for manufacturers to obtain the right to draw up and make available a declaration of performance, permitting the manufacturer to affix the CE marking on to his product. Once CE marked, the product may circulate in the European Union internal market. In short, the European Technical Assessment provides access to the European market. Once a European Technical Assessment has been issued, the manufacturer needs to demonstrate conformity of the products placed on the market with the ETA. How this needs to be done, depends on the conformity assessment system that applies for the product. This may be self-assessment, but may also be certification by a notified body.
Applying for a European Technical Assessment, ETA, is only possible if the product is not (yet) covered by a European harmonised standard. European Technical Assessments, ETA, cover products that deviate from the scope of European harmonised standards.
Applying for an ETA is a voluntary initiative taken by the applicant. There is no legal requirement that requires products to be covered by a European Technical Assessment, ETA.
Rules
Careful reading of the various documents governing the process of obtaining and maintaining a technical approval will allow the applicant to understand how it works.
The tasks and responsibilities as well as the composition and functioning of the structures of the UBAtc can be found in the statutes of the organisation and in the Regulations for interior order (these documents are only available in French and Dutch)
Practical arrangements regarding applications for European Technical Assessments in accordance with Regulation (EU) N° 305/2011, including costs, may be found in the ETA-regulation.
Introducing an application
An application needs to be introduced using the relevant form duly completed and accompanied by documents requested (e.g. the technical file). That form needs to be submitted to info@butgb-ubatc.be.  More information regarding the technical file may be found in the ETA-Regulation. For your application to be considered admissible, the content of the technical file needs to be complete.
