EU Building Materials Import Standards for WPC Panels (Authoritative Guide 2026)
WPC panels entering the EU market must strictly comply with the EU Building Products Regulation (CPR, Regulation No. 305/2011/EU), which is the legal cornerstone of mandatory access. All WPC products used for permanent building structures, such as outdoor floors, fences, terrace panels, etc., must undergo compliance assessment and be affixed with the CE mark, otherwise they cannot be sold or installed within the EU.
Manufacturers must issue an official Declaration of Performance (DoP) for each batch of products, which is a legal obligation rather than advisory material. The DoP must clearly list the product model, manufacturer information, applicable coordination standard number (such as EN 15534-4), evaluated performance parameters and their levels, and the manufacturer shall bear legal responsibility. Although the EU has not released a unified DoP template, its core structure must include: product category, standard basis, performance level, evaluation system (AVCP), notified body number (if applicable), and language version (recommended to use English, German, or the official language of the importing country). Any DoP with missing format, ambiguous parameters, or inconsistent language may result in the goods being detained by customs.
The evaluation of technical performance is based on the EN 15534 series of coordinated standards, and the latest valid version is still EN 15534-1:2014+A1:2017, with no official revisions updated after 2025. Among them, EN 15534-4 is the core specification for WPC flooring products, which specifies key indicators such as static flexural strength not less than 20 MPa, elastic modulus not less than 1800 MPa, creep deformation limit, and anti slip grade (R9 – R11). All tests must be conducted by qualified laboratories according to standard methods, and the test report is the legal supporting document for DoP.
In terms of chemical safety, WPC products must comply with both REACH regulations and RoHS directives. REACH requires that products must not contain substances that exceed the SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list, especially phthalates plasticizers and certain flame retardants; RoHS strictly limits the residue of heavy metals such as lead (Pb ≤ 100 ppm), cadmium (Cd ≤ 100 ppm), and mercury (Hg ≤ 100 ppm) in color masterbatch and stabilizers. Manufacturers are required to provide independent REACH compliance statements and RoHS testing reports as attachments to the DoP. More than 60% of the rejection cases reported by EU customs in 2025-2026 are due to non-compliance with REACH or RoHS, especially for excessive levels of phthalates and heavy metals.
The regulation of WPC products in the EU market has shifted from "compliance access" to "full lifecycle traceability". Manufacturers must keep complete technical documents, including raw material procurement vouchers, production process specifications, test reports, copies of DoPs, etc., for a period of not less than 10 years, in preparation for market regulatory agencies to inspect at any time. False statements, forgery of CE markings, or use of test reports issued by non notified bodies will result in product recalls, high fines, and even market bans.
For export enterprises wishing to enter high-end green building projects, although BREEAM and LEED green building certification systems do not set independent material standards for WPCs, they prioritize the adoption of Cradle to Cradle Certified in their "material sustainability" and "carbon footprint" scoring items ® Or products with Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). If Linyi enterprises can simultaneously promote C2C certification or release third-party verified LCA reports, it will significantly enhance their competitiveness in high-end projects such as villas, hotels, and public buildings.