EU JRC Publishes Official Methodology for DPP Data Requirements Under ESPR
EU Joint Research Centre Publishes Official DPP Methodology
On March 19, 2026, the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) published a landmark report defining the official 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, for the first time, a concrete step-by-step methodology that the European Commission will use to draft delegated acts — the legally binding rules for each product group.
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 (Mandatory) — Legal compliance requirements. 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 confirms the indicative timelines for delegated acts under ESPR:
| Product Group | Expected Start |
|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | 2026 |
| Textiles | 2027 |
| Tyres | 2027 |
| Aluminium | 2027 |
| Furniture | 2028 |
| ICT/Electronics | 2029 |
| Batteries (Battery Regulation) | Early 2027 |
| Packaging | August 2028 |
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 — with delegated acts planned for 2027, there’s less than a year to prepare
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 automatic compliance verification. We follow the JRC methodology and the CEN/CENELEC JTC 24 standards currently being developed.
Book a demo to see how Blippa can help your organisation prepare for DPP requirements.
Source: JRC145830 — Methodology for defining data requirements for the Digital Product Passport under the ESPR framework, published March 19, 2026.