# Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

**Reference:** Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 · **Status:** In force · **DPP applies:** Per delegated act — usually ≥18 months after adoption

> ESPR does not make passports mandatory on its own. Each product group becomes subject to a DPP only when its delegated act applies, normally with at least an 18-month transition.

The framework law that creates the EU Digital Product Passport. In force since 18 July 2024, it sets the horizontal DPP rules (Articles 9–15) while product-specific delegated acts decide which data, carrier and granularity each product group needs.

**Scope:** Almost all physical goods placed on the EU market, including components and intermediate products, rolled out product group by product group.

## Key dates

- **13 Jun 2024** — ESPR adopted

- **18 Jul 2024** — ESPR enters into force

- **16 Apr 2025** — Working plan 2025–2030 adopted (COM(2025) 187)

- **19 Jul 2026** — Central DPP registry deadline (Art. 13)

- **19 Jul 2026** — Ban on destroying unsold apparel & footwear — large companies

- **19 Jul 2030** — Destruction ban extends to medium-sized companies

## Articles 9–15 at a glance

- Art. 9 — Products covered by a delegated act may only be placed on the market with the required passport. The act sets data, carrier, granularity (model, batch or item), access rights and availability period.

- Art. 10 — Persistent unique product identifier, physical data carrier, open standards, machine-readable and transferable data, differentiated access.

- Art. 11 — Interoperability, secure storage, authentication, integrity, privacy and continued availability, including backup by DPP service providers.

- Art. 12 — Rules for product, operator and facility identifiers.

- Art. 13 — Commission central registry storing at least the unique identifiers.

- Art. 14 — Public web portal to search and compare passport information.

- Art. 15 — Customs checks against the registry for imported products.

## Decentralised by design

The central registry holds identifiers, not the passports themselves. Passport data stays in systems run by the responsible economic operator or a DPP service provider acting on its behalf. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 of 16 July 2026 sets the registry's operating arrangements.

## Annex III is a menu, not a template

Annex III lists the information a delegated act can require — product and GTIN identification, commodity codes, compliance documentation, manuals and safety information, operator and facility identifiers. Each delegated act picks what applies. There is no general obligation to publish a full bill of materials, use blockchain, or serialise every item.

## Standards: CEN/CENELEC JTC 24

Under standardisation request M/604 (C(2024) 5423), JTC 24 delivered a first series of eight European DPP standards in July 2026. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736 references EN 18216, 18219, 18220, 18221, 18222 and 18223:2026, giving a presumption of conformity with Articles 10–11. These standards cover identifiers, carriers, access rights, APIs and data exchange — not sector data content.

## DPP service providers

Article 11 empowers a delegated act on requirements for third-party DPP service providers and a possible certification scheme. This act was not verified as adopted; treat any claimed 'EU DPP licence' with caution until it is.

## Passport information

- Unique product identifier (model, batch or item)

- GTIN or equivalent and commodity (TARIC) code

- Manufacturer, importer and operator identifiers

- Facility identifiers

- Compliance documentation and declaration of conformity

- User manuals, instructions, warnings and safety information

- Durability, reparability and recycled content (where required)

- Substances of concern (where required)

- Environmental footprint (where required)

## FAQ

### When does ESPR make DPPs mandatory?

Only when a product-specific delegated act applies. Acts normally apply at least 18 months after entry into force, so the earliest ESPR passports (iron and steel) are expected around 2028.

### Does ESPR apply to non-EU manufacturers?

Yes. It covers products placed on the EU market regardless of where they are made.

### What is excluded from ESPR?

Food, feed, medicinal products, veterinary medicines, living plants, animals and micro-organisms, and certain vehicle aspects already regulated elsewhere.

## Sources

- [Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 — EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj/eng)

- [ESPR Working Plan 2025–2030](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/document/download/5f7ff5e2-ebe9-4bd4-a139-db881bd6398f_en)

- [Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 (registry)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ%3AL_202601778)

- [European Commission — Digital Product Passport](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport_en)

- [CEN/CENELEC — DPP standards](https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-events/news/2026/en-in-the-spotlight/2026-07-15-dpp/)