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 Reg. (EU) 2026/296 and disclosure-format act Reg. (EU) 2026/2.
15 July 2026
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Six horizontal DPP standards (EN 18216 to 18223:2026) cited in the Official Journal by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736. A passport built to them is presumed to conform with ESPR Articles 10 and 11.
17 July 2026
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Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 adopted, establishing the operating rules for the EU DPP Registry under ESPR Article 13. The Registry went live to users on 20 July 2026; the regulation enters into force 6 August 2026.
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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First category delegated acts expected. Iron and steel is the lead category and the only one to reach public consultation, which ran 20 May to 12 August 2026 and is now closed, with adoption targeted Q4 2026. Textiles, tyres, and aluminium follow. Dates other than the consultation window are indicative.
Late 2026 / early 2027
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ESPR textiles delegated act: proposal expected late 2026, adoption to follow, with realistic compliance around 2028 to 2029.
Plenary indicative 11 Nov 2026
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Omnibus IV digitalisation strand (COM(2025) 504 and 503) reached provisional political agreement on 9 June 2026, and COREPER confirmed the compromise texts on 26 June 2026. Committee approved the negotiated text on 14 July 2026 and the indicative plenary first reading is 11 November 2026. 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. The Commission's Registry went live to users on 20 July 2026, and its operating rules are set by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778.
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.