European Commission Launches the European Digital Product Passport Registry
On 20 July 2026, the European Commission officially launched the European Digital Product Passport Registry, together with a dedicated test environment. This marks an important step towards the practical implementation of the Digital Product Passport for products that will gradually come within the scope of European legislation.
The launch of the Registry does not mean that all products are required to have a Digital Product Passport from this date. The specific requirements will enter into force gradually for individual product groups, according to the timelines set out in the applicable European legislation.
The development shows that the core European technical infrastructure for registering Digital Product Passports is now operational. Economic operators can register their organisations in the system, use the test environment, and familiarise themselves with the processes for registering and managing Digital Product Passports. The actual registration of passports will take place in accordance with the applicable requirements for the respective products.
What is the difference between the digital product passport and the Register?
As previously presented in RCCI’s information series, the Digital Product Passport is a digital record containing information about a product. Depending on the requirements applicable to the respective product group, it may include information on the product’s identification, composition and characteristics, as well as data related to repair, reuse and recycling.
The detailed information contained in the Digital Product Passport is not stored in the European Registry. It is stored in a decentralised manner and remains under the responsibility of the relevant economic operator.
Depending on the specific case, this operator may be a manufacturer, importer or another economic operator designated under the applicable legislation. The data may be managed through the operator’s own information system or by a specialised Digital Product Passport service provider.
The European Registry serves a different function. It stores unique identifiers, registration data and essential metadata related to the product and its Digital Product Passport. Through the Registry, the passport can be located, identified and verified.
In general:
The Digital Product Passport contains detailed product information, while the European Registry contains the data required to identify and verify the passport and confirm its registration.
Practical example
As an illustrative example, the Digital Product Passport for a particular model of office chair could include:
- information about the materials used;
- data on recycled material content;
- information about available spare parts;
- repair and maintenance instructions;
- information on how the product can be disassembled;
- options for reuse and recycling.
This is an example of possible content. The specific mandatory data requirements for furniture will be determined by the applicable European rules for this product group.
The detailed data may be stored in the system of the manufacturer or another responsible economic operator, or on a platform operated by a specialised Digital Product Passport service provider.
A registration will be created in the European Registry linking the product’s unique identifier to the identifier of its Digital Product Passport and to the relevant registration data and metadata.
The Registry does not replace the passport and does not contain a complete copy of it. Its purpose is to provide a common European system through which the passport can be registered, identified and verified.
Access to the Digital Product Passport will be provided through a QR code or another machine-readable data carrier. Depending on the rules applicable to the respective product group, it may be placed on the product, its packaging or the accompanying documentation.
How the Register will be used
Economic operators will be able to work with the Register in two main ways:
- through a secure user interface;
- through API connection to the company's information systems.
API integration is particularly relevant for companies managing a large number of products, models or individual product units. It allows registrations to be submitted automatically through the digital systems used by the company.
The European Commission also provides a separate test environment. It enables companies to familiarise themselves with the system’s functions and workflows and to test future integrations without affecting live data or actual registrations.
Access to the test environment requires the creation of a separate EU Login account intended specifically for testing purposes.
The European Commission has also published a detailed Guide to the Registry for Economic Operators. It provides practical instructions on creating an EU Login account, registering and verifying an organisation, registering Digital Product Passports and using the test environment.
In the next publication in RCCI’s information series, we will take a closer look at the sectors and product groups expected to be among the first and most significantly affected by the introduction of the Digital Product Passport.
The launch of the European Registry is an important step towards the practical implementation of the Digital Product Passport. It does not introduce a general obligation for all products, but it establishes the technical infrastructure through which passports will be registered, identified and verified.
Read more on the topic
RCCI is following the introduction of the Digital Product Passport and its practical significance for businesses through a dedicated information series:
- The Digital Product Passport: What It Is and Why It's Important for Business
- European regulations and the Digital Product Passport: what's next
- Digital Product Passport: What data should businesses prepare and where to start
Sources:
European Commission: The DPP Registry
European Commission: The Digital Product Passport Registry is now live
Note: This article was prepared with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence, which supported the structuring of the content, verification of sources and drafting process. The final text reflects the author’s expert input, ensuring its accuracy and practical relevance. The information is current as of 21 July 2026 and does not constitute legal or financial advice.
