EU JRC Publishes Official Methodology for DPP Data Requirements Under ESPR

EU Joint Research Centre Publishes Official DPP Methodology

In March 2026, the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a report setting out a methodology for determining which data should be included in Digital Product Passports (DPPs) under the ESPR framework (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).

Report JRC145830 provides a concrete step-by-step methodology to support the preparatory studies for delegated acts — the legally binding rules for each product group. It is a JRC science report and does not necessarily reflect the Commission's position.

Four Steps to Data Requirements

The JRC methodology follows four main steps:

Step A — Scope & Context: Define product scope, identify stakeholders, and map current data collection practices
Step B — Use Cases & Data Needs: Specify use cases (market surveillance, repair, recycling, consumer information) and prioritise data needs
Step C — Design & Development: Build vocabularies, determine data granularity and access rights
Step D — Validation: Internal consistency check and public consultation before delegated acts are adopted

Three Data Levels: Essential, Recommended, Voluntary

One of the most important insights is JRC’s three-tier prioritisation model:

Essential — Candidates for mandatory requirements; what becomes mandatory is decided in the delegated act. Includes identifiers (UPI, UOI, UFI), manufacturer information, and regulated substances.
Strongly Recommended — High value for circularity and feasible based on current industry practice. Should be included unless strong barriers exist.
Voluntary — Useful data that can be added over time, not mandatory for initial compliance.

Product Group Timelines

The report repeats the indicative timelines for delegated acts from the Commission's working plan. They are years for adopting the acts, not dates when requirements apply; under ESPR Article 4(4) requirements apply no earlier than 18 months after an act enters into force. As of October 2026 none of these acts has been adopted.

Product Group	Indicative timeline
Iron & Steel	2026
Textiles	2027
Tyres	2027
Aluminium	2027
Energy-related products	2027
Furniture	2028
Mattresses	2029
ICT	2029
Batteries (Battery Regulation; passport for LMT, industrial over 2 kWh and EV batteries)	18 February 2027
Packaging (PPWR; harmonised digital labelling, not a passport)	From 12 August 2028 at the earliest

What This Means for Businesses

For manufacturers and importers, the JRC report means:

Data requirements are becoming concrete — no longer just principles, but specific fields and priorities
Granularity varies by field — some data applies per model, others per batch or per individual item
Role-based access — different actors (manufacturers, authorities, recyclers) get access to different data
Textiles industry should prepare now — the delegated act is indicatively planned for 2027, with requirements applying no earlier than 18 months after it enters into force

How Blippa Can Help

Blippa’s DPP platform is built to handle exactly these requirements — flexible schemas per product group, support for model/batch/item granularity, role-based access control, and checks against the requirements. We follow the JRC methodology and the six harmonised CEN-CENELEC JTC 24 standards (EN 18216, EN 18219–18223) cited in the Official Journal on 15 July 2026.

Book a demo to see how Blippa can help your organisation prepare for DPP requirements.