How long the support period must be
The support period reflects how long the product is expected to be in use, taking into account reasonable user expectations, the nature and intended purpose of the product and other Union law on product lifetimes. It is at least five years; where the product is expected to be in use for less than five years, it corresponds to that expected use time (Article 13(8)). The Commission's FAQ adds that products often used for longer, such as routers, operating systems or industrial control systems, should get longer support periods, and that a period under five years fits only products whose use is that short, such as an app for one pandemic or software that stops working when its subscription ends.
Other points you may weigh: the support periods of similar products from other manufacturers, how long the operating environment is available, the support periods of third-party components that provide core functions, and guidance from ADCO and the Commission. Record the information you used in the technical documentation (Article 13(8)).
When it starts
The Act ties the duty to the placing on the market. The Commission's FAQ gives the example of units placed on the market in January 2028 with a five-year support period, supported until January 2033; units of the same model placed on the market later get their own support period. The planner counts whole months from the date you enter.
What buyers must see
The end date, at least month and year, is shown clearly at the time of purchase and, where applicable, on the product, its packaging or by digital means. Where technically feasible, the product tells users when its support period has ended (Article 13(19)).
Dates that follow from it
- Each security update made available during the support period stays available for at least 10 years after it is issued, or for the rest of the support period if that is longer (Article 13(9)).
- The technical documentation and the EU declaration of conformity are kept for at least 10 years after the product is placed on the market, or for the support period if that is longer (Article 13(13)).
- The Act applies to units placed on the market from 11 December 2027; units placed earlier fall under it only if substantially modified from then, while the reporting duties of Article 14 apply to them anyway (Articles 69 and 71).
The other CRA documents: the CRA declaration of conformity generator, the CVD policy and security.txt generator and the CRA readiness check.
The Commission's FAQ is not an official position of the Commission and can change. The planner applies the Act's minimum; it does not decide how long your product is expected to be in use.