Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Digital Product Passports

1. What is a Digital Product Passport (DPP)?

A Digital Product Passport is a structured set of digital information about a product that can be accessed electronically, usually via a data carrier such as a QR code. It is designed to give value‑chain actors and authorities easy access to product information and to help verify legal compliance.

2. Which products will need a Digital Product Passport?

Not all products will need a DPP. Only product groups for which the EU sets specific information requirements in delegated acts under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will need a passport.

3. When will Digital Product Passports start to apply?

DPPs will be introduced product group by product group through delegated acts. The first such acts, including DPP provisions, are expected to enter into force around mid‑2027, after preparatory studies, impact assessments, and consultations.

4. Who decides what data must be in the DPP?

The European Commission will define DPP content in product‑specific (or horizontal) delegated acts adopted under ESPR. For each regulated product group, those acts will spell out which data must appear in the passport.

5. Will every component of a product also need its own DPP?

In some cases, yes. Where a component is covered by a separate delegated act (for example, batteries), that component may need its own DPP, which can then be digitally linked to the DPP of the final product.

6. Do imported products also need a Digital Product Passport?

Yes. Products imported into the EU must meet the same DPP requirements as EU‑made products. The economic operator placing the product on the EU market is responsible for ensuring that the DPP is created and made available.

7. Will consumers be able to use the DPP when they buy products?

For products that require a DPP, consumers must be able to access the passport at the point of purchase, including online. This should make it easier to compare products on aspects such as environmental performance, where such information is required.

8. How does the DPP relate to other EU systems like EPREL or the battery passport?

ESPR allows the Commission to waive the DPP obligation where another EU digital information system already achieves the same objectives, such as the EPREL database for energy‑labelled products. For batteries, the battery passport must be interoperable with the DPP in technical, semantic, and organisational terms.

9. Will the DPP include information on substances of concern?

For products that have a DPP, information on substances of concern present above relevant thresholds must be tracked and included where required by the product‑specific delegated act. Exact thresholds, exemptions, and access rights will be defined per product group.

10. Who is responsible for keeping the DPP accurate and up to date?

The economic operator placing the product on the EU market is responsible for ensuring that the DPP is complete, accurate, and updated when needed. Market surveillance authorities in Member States will monitor compliance, while customs will check basic registry data such as unique identifiers.