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Important & critical products

Which products count as “important” or “critical” – and what follows?

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What determines if a product is an important or critical product?

It depends on the product’s core functionality (Art. 7(1), 8(1)). If it falls within the listed categories, the product is important or critical – triggering stricter conformity procedures.

Source: European Commission · FAQ 3.1 Official EU FAQ (original text)

Does integrating an important/critical component make the whole product important/critical?

No. Integrating an important or critical component does not automatically make the overall product important or critical itself (Art. 7(1)).

Source: European Commission · FAQ 3.2 Official EU FAQ (original text)

Does classification as important/critical affect the manufacturer’s risk assessment?

Requirements must always be implemented proportionate to risk (Art. 13). Classification mainly changes the conformity procedure; the risk assessment remains mandatory and product-specific.

Source: European Commission · FAQ 3.3 Official EU FAQ (original text)

Do multiple functions mean a product lacks the core functionality of an important/critical product?

No. Additional functions do not remove the classification – what matters is whether the core functionality matches an important/critical category.

Source: European Commission · FAQ 3.4 Official EU FAQ (original text)

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Summarised and translated from the European Commission’s “FAQs on the Cyber Resilience Act” (v1.2, 16 January 2026), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Simplified by Lehner & Szecsey – the original text prevails. Official EU FAQ (original text).