Procurement Classification
CPV Codes explained.
The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is the EU standard classification system for public procurement. Every government tender across Europe uses CPV codes to categorise what's being procured.
What are CPV codes?
CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) is a unified classification system established by the European Union through Regulation (EC) No 213/2008. It provides a standardised way to describe the subject of public procurement contracts across all EU member states.
Each CPV code is an 8-digit number where the first two digits identify the division (e.g., 45 = Construction, 72 = IT services), the next digits provide increasingly specific classification, and the final digit is a check digit.
Understanding CPV codes is essential for any business looking to bid on European public procurement contracts. They help you find relevant tenders, understand market categories, and identify procurement patterns.
Example
72212000Programming services of application software
Division 72 (IT services) → Group 721 (IT consulting) → Class 7221 (Software) → Category 72212 (Application software)
services
20 CPV divisions
goods
20 CPV divisions
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