Digital Product Passport: what changes for shops and ateliers

What is the Digital Product Passport?

It is a set of information about a product (composition, origin of materials, care, repair, end of life) reached from a data carrier on the product, usually a QR code. It is introduced by the European ESPR regulation (EU 2024/1781), in force since July 2024.

Is it already mandatory for clothing?

No. The requirements for textiles will come with a specific delegated act, which the Commission plans to adopt in 2027. Obligations apply no earlier than 18 months after its entry into force (Art. 4): for clothing, therefore, not before 2029. That act will set the exact dates and the list of data.

So what is already in force?

The EU passport registry has been operational since 20 July 2026, but it brings no obligations for clothing yet. Since 19 July 2026 large companies may not destroy unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear; for medium-sized companies the ban starts on 19 July 2030, and micro and small companies are exempt.

Does it concern the shop or only the producer?

The passport must be created and maintained by whoever places the product on the market: the manufacturer or brand, or the importer. An atelier making its own garments is, to all effects, a manufacturer. Retailers do not create the passport, but will have to make it easily accessible to customers, including in online sales (Art. 31).

Will a code be needed for each item or for each model?

It has not been decided yet: the delegated act will choose between model, batch or single item (Art. 9). A code for each item covers every case, because from an item you can always trace back to its model and batch; the opposite is not possible.

Is blockchain needed?

No. The regulation does not mention it and does not ask for unchangeable data: it asks for accurate, complete and up-to-date data (Art. 9), a backup copy held by a service provider (Art. 10), ensured integrity and modification rights restricted to those entitled (Art. 11). We cover this in the technical note.

What can a shop or atelier do today?

Give each item a code, record supplier, composition and origin when the goods arrive and the paperwork is on the table, keep the history of sales, alterations and repairs, and be able to export everything. These are the same things already needed today to check deliveries, find items and calculate costs: when the obligation arrives, the data will already be there.

Sources: Regulation (EU) 2024/1781; European Commission page on the Digital Product Passport; Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778. This page is for information and does not replace legal advice.