CRITICAL — BATTERY DEADLINE: 18 FEB 2027

Digital Product Passport 2027: Which Products Are Mandatory and What You Must Do Now

2027 is the year Digital Product Passports become legally mandatory for the first major product categories under EU law. Batteries face a hard deadline of 18 February 2027. Textiles follow in 2027–2028. Electronics and tyres are close behind. This guide covers every 2027 deadline, the data requirements for each category, and the exact steps manufacturers must take before the EU DPP Registry goes live on 19 July 2026.

Products with Mandatory DPPs in 2027

CRITICAL PRIORITY

Industrial & EV Batteries

Mandatory Deadline
18 February 2027
Regulation: EU 2023/1542
Key data required: Carbon footprint, recycled content (Co, Li, Ni, Pb), state of health, supply chain due diligence
HIGH PRIORITY

Textiles & Apparel

Mandatory Deadline
2027 (delegated act Q2 2027)
Regulation: ESPR 2024/1781 + Delegated Act
Key data required: Fibre composition, recycled content, PEF score, REACH substances, certifications
HIGH PRIORITY

Tyres

Mandatory Deadline
2027 (expected)
Regulation: ESPR 2024/1781 + Delegated Act
Key data required: Material composition, rolling resistance, wet grip, noise levels, recycled rubber content
MEDIUM PRIORITY

Electronics & ICT

Mandatory Deadline
2027–2028
Regulation: ESPR 2024/1781 + Delegated Act
Key data required: Material composition, repairability score, spare parts availability, software update period

The Battery Passport: February 2027 Hard Deadline

The EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542) is the first piece of EU legislation to mandate a Digital Product Passport for a specific product category. From 18 February 2027, industrial batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh, electric vehicle batteries, and light means of transport (LMT) batteries must carry a Digital Battery Passport before they can be placed on the EU market.

The Battery Passport is more demanding than the general ESPR DPP framework. It requires real-time data on the battery's state of health (SoH) — meaning the passport must be updatable throughout the battery's operational life. It also requires supply chain due diligence data under the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation, covering the sourcing of cobalt, lithium, nickel, and lead.

For African mining companies — particularly South African manganese and lithium producers, and DRC cobalt miners — the Battery Passport creates a direct commercial requirement. EU battery manufacturers will not be able to use African minerals without a DPP-compatible supply chain. The Africa DPP Registry's Mining sector hub is specifically designed to address this requirement.

What Manufacturers Must Do Before 2027

Now (2026)
Register on the Africa DPP Registry. Verify your company identity. Begin collecting compliance data for your product category.
Q2 2026
Complete data collection: fibre composition certificates, carbon footprint calculations, chemical test reports, certifications. Use the Registry's sector-specific Compliance Template to ensure you collect the right data in the right format.
19 July 2026
EU DPP Registry goes live. Mint your first DPP on the Africa DPP Registry. Your record will be cross-referenced with the EU Registry from day one.
Q3–Q4 2026
Integrate DPP QR codes into your product labelling, packaging, and export documentation. Brief your EU buyers and customs brokers on how to verify your DPPs.
18 Feb 2027 (Batteries)
Battery DPP mandatory. All industrial and EV batteries entering the EU must have a valid Digital Battery Passport. No exceptions.
2027–2028 (Textiles)
Textile DPP mandatory. All apparel and home textiles entering the EU must have a valid DPP with fibre composition, recycled content, and PEF data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which products require a Digital Product Passport in 2027?

In 2027, mandatory Digital Product Passports are required for: (1) Industrial and EV batteries under EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542 (mandatory from February 2027), (2) Textiles and apparel under the ESPR Textile Delegated Act (expected adoption Q2 2027, mandatory from 2027–2028), and (3) Tyres under the ESPR Tyre Delegated Act (expected 2027). Batteries have the hardest deadline — February 18, 2027.

What happens if I sell products in the EU without a DPP in 2027?

Products without a valid Digital Product Passport cannot legally be placed on the EU market after the mandatory deadline for their category. EU customs authorities will have automated verification systems that scan QR codes and check DPP records against the EU Registry. Products that fail verification will be held at the border. Importers face fines, product seizure, and potential market bans.

When is the battery DPP deadline in 2027?

Under EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542, industrial batteries, EV batteries, and LMT batteries require a Digital Battery Passport from February 18, 2027. The passport must contain: battery model, manufacturer, manufacturing plant, carbon footprint (kg CO₂e per kWh), recycled content of cobalt, lithium, nickel and lead, state of health, and supply chain due diligence information.

How long does it take to get a DPP before the 2027 deadline?

On the Africa DPP Registry, the minting process takes under 15 minutes once you have your compliance documents ready. However, collecting the underlying data — fibre composition certificates, chemical test reports, carbon footprint calculations, certifications — can take 4–12 weeks. Manufacturers should begin data collection immediately. The EU DPP Registry goes live on 19 July 2026, and early registration gives you a verified record before the 2027 mandatory deadline.

The 2027 Deadline Is 9 Months Away

Data collection takes 4–12 weeks. Registration takes 15 minutes. Start now.

Register Your Business