EU Digital Product Passport

Digital Product Passport

A Digital Product Passport, sometimes referred to as the product’s technical file, is a digital record mandated by EU law that consolidates essential information on a product’s identity, compliance, safety, and sustainability. Originating under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the DPP enhances supply chain transparency and traceability, benefiting consumers, regulators, and businesses. It complements safety obligations under the General Product Safety Regulation.

Purpose

The DPP is intended to improve product traceability and facilitate rapid conformity checks by customs and market surveillance authorities. It also supports circular economy objectives, such as repair, reuse, and recycling, by recording materials, components, lifespan, and disposal guidance. In addition, it provides consumers with information on product origin, compliance, user safety, and lifecycle management.

Key components

The Digital Product Passport serves as a digital record containing documentation that demonstrates a product’s compliance with EU requirements. The core content of a DPP typically includes:

A unique product identifier, such as a model, batch, or serial number
The EU Declaration of Conformity
Material and composition details
A summary of risk assessments and mitigation measures
Instructions for use, repair, maintenance, and end-of-life disposal
The names and contact details of economic operators such as the manufacturer, authorised representative, importer, or responsible person.

To meet General Product Safety Regulation obligations, the DPP / technical file must include:

A general description of the product and its essential characteristics.
Product labels and, where applicable, instructions for use.
An internal risk analysis that considers hazards such as mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical, hygiene, or other risks associated with the product’s characteristics, appearance, intended consumer category, interaction with other products, cybersecurity features, and evolving functionalities.
A list of applicable European standards or other specifications used to demonstrate compliance.
Test reports, safety data sheets, toxicological assessment reports, composition sheets, or supplier declarations, where relevant.

The Declaration of Conformity is a critical element of this documentation. It is a formal statement by the manufacturer or importer that the product complies with all relevant EU legislation and must include the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, a description of the product, references to applicable legislation, applicable standards or specifications, the name and signature of the responsible person, and the date of issue.
The technical documentation must be made available to market surveillance authorities upon request and should enable authorities to assess whether a product is safe. For many product categories, such as toys, electrical equipment, or furniture, this may include evidence of testing to harmonised European standards.

Relationship to GPSR

While the GPSR focuses specifically on product safety, it aligns closely with the Digital Product Passport framework by requiring that safety-related documentation is included, maintained, and accessible in digital form. The DPP ensures that essential product information can be shared efficiently across the supply chain and with authorities.

Implementation roadmap

The implementation of the DPP follows a phased approach under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, beginning with product categories identified as having significant environmental impact, including batteries, textiles, electronics, and furniture. Pilot initiatives began in 2024, with full deployment expected between 2025 and 2030. The European Commission will define specific DPP requirements for different product groups through delegated acts, and a central EU registry is anticipated by mid-2026.