European Commission Launches Central DPP Register for the Digital Product Passport

The European Commission has officially launched the central DPP register for the Digital Product Passport (DPP). The register is a key component of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and provides the technical framework for the registration and management of Digital Product Passports for products on the EU market. Its launch marks an important step towards the phased introduction of the DPP across various product groups.

What is the European Commission’s new DPP Register?

The DPP Register serves as an EU-wide directory of all registered Digital Product Passports. It stores unique product identifiers, registration data and metadata, whilst the actual product information – such as details on origin, repair, reuse or regulatory compliance – remains decentralised with the respective economic operators or DPP service providers and can be accessed, for example, via a QR code.

Economic operators can already register their organisations and will in future be required to register a product’s Digital Product Passport before it can be placed on the EU market in accordance with the applicable regulations. Registration is possible via both a web interface and an API and can be integrated into existing business systems. In addition, an electronic proof of registration can be issued for compliance and B2B purposes.

How does the register support interoperability and market surveillance?

In addition to registration, the DPP Register provides machine-readable data models, semantic definitions and standardised interfaces. This is intended to improve interoperability between different product groups and reduce the administrative burden on businesses. At the same time, the register helps customs and market surveillance authorities to verify registered Digital Product Passports electronically and to check compliance with regulatory requirements.

The register is currently in the testing phase. Companies already have access to the test environment, technical documentation, implementation guides, webinars and a helpdesk. The first mandatory registrations will be required from 18 February 2027 for certain categories of large batteries. Further product groups covered by the ESPR, including textiles, furniture, tyres, steel, aluminium, as well as ICT and energy-related products, will follow gradually via product-specific legislative acts.

In parallel with the launch of the DPP register, the European Commission has also published the references to the first six harmonised DPP standards. These form the basis for interoperability, unique identifiers, data carriers, APIs, data exchange and data storage, and complement the register’s technical infrastructure.

How does the European Business Wallet complement the DPP?

In future, alongside the registration of products, the unique identification of the companies involved and their representatives will also become important. The European Business Wallet (EBW) will play a key role in enabling organisations to prove who they are, which organisation they represent and what they are authorised to do. It is designed to enable companies to provide verified corporate identities, roles, mandates and authorisations, thereby creating a trusted link between economic operators, their products and the associated product data. Together, DPP registers, Digital Product Passports and European Business Wallets form the basis for interoperable product data, automated compliance processes and trusted data exchange within the European single market.