Independent information resource Product security · EU CRA
Product assessment / 02

Does the CRA apply to your product?

A structured starting point for software, connected hardware and components. This page is a screening guide, not a legal determination.

IN BRIEF

The CRA covers relevant products with digital elements made available on the EU market. Hardware, software, separately placed components and certain remote data-processing solutions can be relevant. The facts of the product and exemptions matter.

Exploded connected sensor showing enclosure and embedded circuit board
PRODUCT ENGINEERING / ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE
SCOPE SCREEN / QUESTIONS
01Product boundaryWhat is supplied?
02ConnectionDevice or network link?
03Market routeCommercial EU supply?
04ExceptionsOther law or exclusions?

These questions organise review. They do not determine applicability on their own.

01 / 03

Map the product boundary

Record the product functions, hardware and software components, connections to devices or networks, and any remote data processing without which a function would not work.

  • Software applications and embedded software
  • Connected devices and hardware
  • Components placed separately on the market
  • Remote data processing meeting the regulatory definition
02 / 03

Check market and exclusions

Determine whether the product is supplied in the course of a commercial activity on the Union market. Certain sectors are covered by other EU legislation, and open-source distribution needs careful analysis. Do not classify a product based on its label alone.

03 / 03

Classification is a separate step

Important and critical categories are set out in Annexes III and IV, with technical descriptions in a separate implementing act. Classification affects the available conformity route. Check the product’s core functionality against the legal text.

REFERENCE DESK

Official sources

Read the full legal text and Commission material for precise wording, qualifications and updates.

Editorial review: 26 September 2026. Regulatory material can change; follow the official sources for current guidance.