Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, in a written answer on 3 July 2026, stated that the European Commission is not aware of any practice by Irish building control authorities of disregarding certificates issued by accredited EU notified bodies for modern methods of construction (MMC) cladding products. The answer, responding to a question from Renew MEP Ciaran Mullooly, said the Commission would need more information to assess whether an investigation is warranted, effectively declining to confirm a violation of single market rules.
Mullooly had alleged that Irish authorities systematically refuse to recognise technical certificates from Kiwa, an inspection company accredited in other Member States, forcing developers into redundant national re-certification. Séjourné’s reply outlined the legal framework: for products covered by harmonised technical specifications, CE-marking is mandatory and Member States must allow market access; for non-harmonised products, Regulation (EU) 2019/515 on mutual recognition requires destination authorities to consider test reports and certificates from accredited bodies. However, the Commission said it has no evidence of systematic non-compliance.
The answer contained no concrete proposals or deadlines for enforcement, instead pointing to the ongoing Construction Product Regulation (CPR) Acquis process, which aims to update all harmonised standards by 2033 and extend coverage to all relevant product families. The First CPR Working Plan for 2026-2029 was cited as providing further details. The response signals a cautious, data-dependent approach, leaving the burden of proof on the complainant and offering no immediate remedy for developers facing delays. Stakeholders most impacted include Irish construction firms and MMC product manufacturers, who may continue to face additional costs and delays, and EU notified bodies like Kiwa, whose cross-border recognition remains contested. The Commission’s stance prioritises procedural caution over rapid intervention, potentially slowing the uptake of innovative, sustainable building products in Ireland.