Construction products covered by a harmonized technical specification (European standard or European technical approval) are provided with the CE marking in order to be placed on the European internal market. By placing the CE marking on his construction products the manufacturer generates trust in the fact that the so marked products fulfill the applicable requirements of the European Construction Products Directive (Council Directive 89/106/EEC). In order to continuously rely on the technical properties of construction products state surveillance of the market is also required. In Germany the Laender are responsible for the market surveillance of construction products which are harmonized according to the Construction Products Directive. A central office located at DIBt acts as coordinator in matters relating to the market surveillance.

Up to now the market surveillance authorities of the Laender in Germany acted depending on the cause (e.g. based on complaints). As of 2010 new European requirements will apply. The key issue of the new regulations is an active (inter alia based on appropriate checks) market surveillance. To that effect a market surveillance programme for harmonized construction products was drawn up in the field of construction which in principle covers all essential product areas in this sector.

The column market surveillance states general information, the market surveillance programme for harmonized construction products as well as the contact points of the Laender.

The tasks of the Coordinating Point Market Surveillance are as follows: Coordination of the market surveillance procedures of the Laender, expert advice to the Laender in matters of the market surveillance of harmonized construction products (inter alia cooperation in the market surveillance program of the Laender for harmonized construction products, further training for the Laender), placing of experts' opinion and audit assignments, cooperation with market surveillance authorities from other EU Member States and third countries, management of the Working Group 'Market surveillance' of the Fachkommission Bautechnik of ARGEBAU, representation of the Laender on the European Cooperation Committee of the European market surveillance authorities (AdCo CPD - Administrative Cooperation Group Construction Products Directive).