Frequently Asked Question

The CPV establishes a single classification system for public procurement aimed at standardising the references used by contracting authorities and entities to describe the subject of procurement contracts.

The CPV consists of a main vocabulary for defining the subject of a contract, and a supplementary vocabulary for adding further qualitative information.

Main vocabulary

The main vocabulary is based on a tree structure comprising codes of up to nine digits associated with a wording that describes the supplies, works or services forming the subject of the contract.

• The first two digits identify the divisions (XX000000-Y);
• The first three digits identify the groups (XXX00000-Y);
• The first four digits identify the classes (XXXX0000-Y);
• The first five digits identify the categories (XXXXX000-Y);

Each of the last three digits gives a greater degree of precision within each category.

A ninth digit serves to verify the previous digits.