ESPR and Digital Product Passport Timeline
ESPR is in force and the regulatory framework is established. The immediate window is the DPP registry launch and the Article 25 destruction ban in July 2026, followed by the battery passport requirement in February 2027. Most product-specific delegated acts are still being drafted, so their category timelines will continue to move.
Firm Dates Locked
18 July 2024
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ESPR entered into force (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781).
16 April 2025
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First ESPR Working Plan 2025 to 2030 adopted (COM(2025) 187), naming the first priority product groups.
9 February 2026
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Article 25 unsold-product rules finalized: derogations act C(2026) 659 and disclosure-format act C(2026) 660.
19 July 2026
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Central DPP registry must be operational (ESPR Art. 13). Article 25 destruction ban begins applying to large enterprises for unsold apparel and footwear.
18 February 2027
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Battery passports mandatory for EV batteries, LMT batteries, and industrial batteries over 2 kWh (Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Art. 77).
23 September 2029
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Detergents and Surfactants Regulation (EU) 2026/405 applies (most provisions).
Moving Targets Signaled
2026 to 2027
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Signaled
First category delegated acts expected. Iron and steel is the likely lead category, followed by textiles, tires, and aluminium. Dates are indicative.
Late 2026 / early 2027
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Signaled
ESPR textiles delegated act: proposal expected late 2026, adoption to follow, with realistic compliance around 2028 to 2029.
Adoption pending
Signaled
Signaled
Omnibus IV digitalisation strand (COM(2025) 504 and 503) reached provisional political agreement on 9 June 2026; formal adoption pending. It moves no date above. The adopted batteries strand, Reg (EU) 2025/1561, postponed battery due diligence to 18 August 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must the EU Digital Product Passport registry be operational?
Under ESPR Article 13, the central EU DPP registry must be operational by 19 July 2026. Whether the Commission's platform will be fully ready on that date is not yet officially confirmed.
When are EU battery passports mandatory?
Battery passports are mandatory from 18 February 2027 for EV, LMT, and industrial batteries over 2 kWh under the Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Article 77.
When does the Article 25 destruction ban take effect?
The Article 25 destruction ban begins applying to large enterprises for unsold apparel and footwear on 19 July 2026. Five-year records must be kept to use any derogation.