The Digital Product Passport timeline is the EU's master schedule for determining when each product category must have a digital passport, stretching from batteries in February 2027 to mobile phones and tablets around 2031. The ESPR Work Plan 2025–2030, adopted on April 16, 2025, defines precisely which products are covered and when. Every company placing physical products on the EU market — manufacturers, distributors, repairers — must know where their category stands. This article is a living reference that we update as dates change and delegated acts are published.
Key takeaways
- •The ESPR Work Plan 2025–2030, adopted on April 16, 2025, is the reference document for all DPP delegated acts
- •The battery passport (February 2027) is the first mandatory DPP — a proving ground for the entire system
- •The textile delegated act is expected in Q2 2027, with compliance roughly 18 months later (~late 2028/2029)
- •Steel and iron are the other pioneer category alongside textiles (delegated act adoption in 2026)
- •A mid-term review of the Work Plan is scheduled for 2028
- •Infrastructure milestones (CEN/CENELEC standards, EU registry, GS1 Sunrise) affect all product categories
2026: The foundation year
2026 is the year infrastructure is put in place. No product-specific DPP is yet mandatory (batteries arrive in February 2027), but the systems that will enforce compliance are being deployed.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | Six of the eight CEN/CENELEC DPP standards JTC 24 published (EN 18216, 18219, 18220, 18221, 18222, and 18223); prEN 18239 and prEN 18246 still in development (~Q3 2026) |
| 2026 (expected) | Adoption of the iron and steel delegated act |
| 2026 (expected) | Adoption of the dishwasher delegated act |
| July 19, 2026 | Ban on destruction of unsold goods for large companies |
| July 19, 2026 | EU Central DPP Registry goes live (expected) |
| July 26, 2026 | Deadline for battery due diligence guidelines |
| July 31, 2026 | Transposition of the Right to Repair Directive |
| August 2026 | Expansion of battery labeling requirements |
| September 27, 2026 | Consumer Empowerment Directive (ECGT) applies |
| December 30, 2026 | EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) applies to large operators |
Why 2026 matters even if your deadline is years away
The CEN/CENELEC standards and EU DPP Registry expected in 2026 define the technical architecture every DPP must use. If you are building internal systems, selecting a DPP platform, or planning after-sales data collection processes, these standards are your foundation. Waiting for your category's delegated act to be published means building on shifting ground.
2027: The first DPP takes effect
2027 is the year the DPP becomes real. The battery passport launches, the textile delegated act is expected, and the transition from barcodes to GS1 QR codes reaches critical mass.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2027 | First annual report on destruction of unsold products |
| February 18, 2027 | Battery passport mandatory |
| Q2 2027 | Adoption of the textile/apparel delegated act (expected) |
| 2027 | Adoption of the tires delegated act |
| 2027 | GS1 Sunrise — global transition from barcodes to QR codes |
| 2027 | Portable batteries must be removable/replaceable |
| 2027 | CEN/CENELEC DPP standards become mandatory |
| 2027 | Repairability scores for consumer electronics begin |
| April 2027 | End of CIRPASS-2 project |
| August 2027 | Battery due diligence obligations apply |
The textile delegated act is the starting gun
When the textile delegated act is published (expected in Q2 2027), the countdown begins. Brands will have roughly 18 months to achieve full compliance. Data collection, platform selection, QR code integration, and supplier engagement must all be completed within that window. Companies that have already connected their after-sales service to the DPP will have a significant advantage.
2028: Expansion
2028 marks the mid-term review of the Work Plan and the adoption of delegated acts for the next wave of product categories.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2028 | Mid-term review of the ESPR Work Plan |
| 2028 | Adoption of the aluminium delegated act |
| 2028 | Adoption of the furniture delegated act |
| 2028 | Adoption of the EV chargers delegated act |
| 2028 | Adoption of the refrigerators/freezers delegated act |
| 2028 | Adoption of the electric motors delegated act |
| ~April 2028 | Textile EPR schemes operational |
| ~Late 2028/early 2029 | Textile DPP requirements apply |
| ~2028/2029 | Tire DPP requirements apply |
| ~2027/2028 | Iron and steel DPP requirements apply |
2029 and beyond
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2029 | Adoption of the mattresses delegated act |
| 2029 | Recycled content / recyclability of EEE |
| ~2029/2030 | Aluminium DPP requirements apply |
| ~2029/2030 | Furniture DPP requirements apply |
| August 1, 2030 | Digital Product Passport under the Toy Safety Regulation takes effect |
| July 19, 2030 | Destruction ban extends to medium-sized companies |
| 2030 | Adoption of the mobile phones/tablets delegated act |
| ~2031/2032 | Mobile phones/tablets DPP requirements apply |
| 2033 | Full textile value chain traceability (proposed) |
The complete product category map
All product categories from the ESPR Work Plan 2025–2030, with their expected timeline:
| Product category | Type | Delegated act adoption | DPP compliance (~18 months later) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batteries (EV + LMT + industrial >2 kWh) | Separate regulation | Adopted | February 2027 |
| Iron and steel | ESPR intermediate | 2026 | ~2027/2028 |
| Dishwashers | ESPR energy-related | 2026 | ~2027/2028 |
| Textiles/apparel | ESPR final | Q2 2027 | ~Late 2028/2029 |
| Tires | ESPR final | 2027 | ~2028/2029 |
| Aluminium | ESPR intermediate | 2028 | ~2029/2030 |
| Furniture | ESPR final | 2028 | ~2029/2030 |
| Mattresses | ESPR final | 2029 | ~2030/2031 |
| EV chargers | ESPR energy-related | 2028 | ~2029/2030 |
| Refrigerators/freezers | ESPR energy-related | 2028 | ~2029/2030 |
| Electric motors | ESPR energy-related | 2028 | ~2029/2030 |
| Mobile phones/tablets | ESPR energy-related | 2030 | ~2031/2032 |
Complementary studies underway
- Footwear — feasibility study expected by end of 2027
- Paints and coatings
- Detergents
- Lubricants
- Chemicals
Other regulations with DPP requirements
ESPR is not the only EU regulation requiring product passports:
| Regulation | Product scope | DPP timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries | EV + LMT + industrial batteries | February 2027 |
| Construction Products Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 | Construction materials | Main provisions January 2026; reporting 2030–2032 |
| Critical Raw Materials Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 | Products with permanent magnets | Labeling Nov. 2025; MPC disclosure May 2027 |
| Toy Safety Regulation (EU) 2025/2509 | Toys | August 1, 2030 |
| Detergents Regulation (under revision) | Detergents | ~2028/2029 (expected) |
Which deadlines have already been postponed?
Delays are part of EU regulatory implementation, not an anomaly. Understanding the pattern helps you plan realistically.
| Requirement | Initial date | Current status | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery carbon footprint methodology | 2024 | Still not adopted as of May 2026 | Complementary methodologies are the first to slip |
| Battery due diligence | August 2025 | Postponed to August 2027 | Industry maturity arguments can shift timelines |
| DPP service provider requirements | End of 2025 | Still pending | Ecosystem governance takes longer than expected |
| CEN/CENELEC DPP standards | Mid-2025 (informal) | Six of eight standards published in May 2026 | Standards slip by months, not years |
| Textile delegated act | '2027' (wave) | Q2 2027 (best estimate) | Specific acts follow the Work Plan, with variability |
The pattern is clear: core deadlines (such as the battery passport date set in regulation) hold firm. Complementary requirements (methodologies, guidelines, governance acts) are delayed. For textiles, the delegated act may slip by a quarter, but once adopted, the 18-month compliance window is unlikely to be extended.
How to use this timeline
Do not treat these dates as predictions. Treat them as planning parameters. If you start preparing based on 'expected' dates and the actual date slips by 6 months, you have gained 6 months of preparation. If you wait for confirmed dates and they arrive on time, you have lost 18 months. The cost of being early is zero. The cost of being late is market access.
Key infrastructure milestones (all categories)
These milestones affect every company regardless of product category:
| Milestone | Date | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| CEN/CENELEC DPP standards | Six of eight standards published in May 2026; two in development (~Q3 2026) | Defines the technical requirements that all DPPs must meet |
| EU Central DPP Registry | July 2026 (expected) | Products must be registered before being placed on the market |
| GS1 Sunrise 2027 | 2027 | QR code infrastructure for retail enters main phase |
| Battery passport in effect | February 2027 | First real DPP — proof of concept for the entire ecosystem |
| End of CIRPASS-2 | April 2027 | Pilot results inform final standards and requirements |
| Mid-term Work Plan review | 2028 | Commission may adjust product timelines |
What is the critical path for your business?
Whether you are a home appliance manufacturer, distributor, repairer, or textile brand, these are the dates that matter most:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (2026) | Start structuring your product and after-sales data. Understand the ESPR framework and connect traceability with after-sales service. |
| July 2026 | The EU DPP Registry and destruction ban take effect. First compliance test for fashion. |
| Q2 2027 | Textile delegated act published — exact DPP data fields are defined. Select your DPP platform. |
| 2027–2028 | Implementation window. Build systems, integrate QR codes, connect after-sales service to DPP data. |
| ~Late 2028/2029 | Textile compliance deadline. Every affected product on the EU market needs a DPP. |
Verisav connects the DPP to after-sales service: repair history, parts traceability, regulatory compliance — the timeline gives you preparation time if you use it now.
Further reading
Verisav resources
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