Summary
Understand the EU regulation that mandates digital product passports and what compliance means for your business operations.
Summary
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) 2024/1781 is the EU's flagship legislation establishing mandatory digital product passports for products sold in the European market. It replaces the old Ecodesign Directive and dramatically expands requirements beyond energy products.
Manufacturers must create digital product passports with accurate data, use open technical standards, assign unique product identifiers, and arrange certified backup storage.
Importers must verify DPP validity and maintain data accuracy for the EU market, while distributors and dealers ensure customer access to DPP information and provide digital support.
Products without valid digital passports cannot be sold in the EU, with customs authorities verifying DPP existence for imports and market surveillance authorities conducting compliance checks.
Regulation Structure
The ESPR contains 80 articles on ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, including 3 articles specifically dedicated to digital product passports:
Implementation Timeline
The regulation follows a phased implementation approach:
2024-2025 Preparation phase with delegated acts development
2026 Mandatory compliance for priority sectors
2026-2030 Gradual expansion to additional product categories
Core Requirements
Article 9: Mandatory DPP
- Products cannot be sold without DPP
- Data must be accurate, complete, up-to-date
- Covers data content, access rights, update procedures
Article 10: Technical Specs
- Unique product identifier required
- Open standards mandatory
- No vendor lock-in permitted
- Service provider backup required
Article 11: Design & Operation
- Full interoperability between systems
- Free access for all stakeholders
- High security and privacy protection
- Data integrity assurance