DPP Timeline and Deadlines

There is no single "start date" for the Digital Product Passport; the timeline is staggered by product group. Still, the big picture is clear: ESPR entered into force in 2024, and its working plan sets out which products face the first obligations and when.

The big picture

• 2024: ESPR entered into force and established the framework.
• 2025–2026: Working plan for priority product groups and preparation of the first delegated acts.
• 2027 and beyond: The first product groups are expected to see DPP obligations phase in. Groups such as textiles and iron and steel are named as priorities.
• The battery passport follows an earlier schedule under a separate regulation (the EU Battery Regulation); you'll find the details in battery passport.

Exact dates crystallise as each product group's delegated act is published, so it is worth continuously tracking which products need a DPP.

The exporter's "preparation window"

When a delegated act is published, a transition period is usually granted before it applies. But that period is not nearly long enough to build a data infrastructure from scratch. The real bottleneck is not the legislation but the data itself: gathering material composition, recycled-content share and supply-chain traceability data takes months.

So the advice is clear: don't wait for the deadline. Start today with preparation for SMEs and the data-collection checklist.

Summary

The timeline is staggered but the direction is one-way: more and more product groups will fall under the DPP. The manufacturer who prepares early both lowers compliance risk and captures the competitive advantage the DPP offers sooner.

Frequently asked questions