In 2001-2003, as Lithuania was preparing to become a member of the European Union, construction materials testing laboratories began to prepare for the introduction of new standards and test method. The test laboratories inherited the former test methods and equipment from the Soviet era, they did not have the experience and the funds to move smoothly towards a new approach to the implementation of the Construction Products Directive, to understand the European standards system, purchase new equipment, train staff. At that time laboratories were supported by the National Accreditation Bureau and the Lithuanian standards board, but lacked a positive attitude from other regulatory authorities: cooperation with test laboratories did not take place and the laboratories were once considered to be control bodies hindering business development and therefore, there was little opportunity to get public support.
Gediminas Kunčinas, the head of one of the first construction testing laboratories accredited in Lithuania, came up with the idea of establishing an association for testing laboratories in the field of construction. By bringing together a group of laboratory leaders of this field, he proposed to combine the efforts of the laboratories to change the attitude of public authorities and business towards test laboratories, to publicize the activities of the laboratories, to gain more state support. In 2003, a constituent meeting of the Association of construction products testing laboratories took place, was attended by representatives of 17 testing laboratories. Gediminas Kunčinas was elected president of the Association and officiated for 12 years.