Interoperability
Definition
Interoperability in the DPP context means that product passport data can be accessed, exchanged, and understood by different software systems, platforms, and stakeholders — regardless of which technology or provider created the DPP. ESPR Article 10 requires DPPs to be built on open, interoperable standards so that a recycler in Poland can read a DPP created by a manufacturer in Japan using a software platform built in Germany.
Why interoperability is non-trivial
The EU expects DPPs to be read by:
- Consumers scanning a QR code with a smartphone
- Recyclers at end-of-life processing facilities
- Market surveillance authorities running compliance checks
- Customs systems at EU borders
- Business-to-business supply chain partners
- Automated regulatory reporting systems
Each of these use cases has different technical requirements. Without mandated standards, each manufacturer would implement DPPs in proprietary formats — creating a fragmented ecosystem where data cannot be verified or compared.
The standards landscape
Harmonised European standards. Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736, adopted by the Commission on 14 July 2026 and published in the Official Journal on 15 July 2026, cites six harmonised DPP standards, including EN 18216:2026 on data exchange protocols and EN 18223:2026 on system interoperability. A DPP that conforms to them is presumed to comply with the corresponding requirements of ESPR Articles 10 and 11. Two further standards, EN 18239 (access rights management, information system security and business confidentiality) and EN 18246 (data authentication, reliability and integrity), were published by CEN and CENELEC on 16 September 2026. As of 9 October 2026 neither is cited in the Official Journal, so neither yet gives a presumption of conformity.
International standards. ISO/IEC JTC 5 Digital Product Passport was set up in the first quarter of 2026, with DIN as secretariat. As of October 2026 it has two approved projects, ISO/IEC 25534-1 (concepts and terminology) and ISO/IEC 25534-2 (overview and fundamental principles), and no published standards.
Other key standards being developed or adopted:
Data format and exchange:
- EPCIS (GS1) — Electronic Product Code Information Services; event-based supply chain data exchange standard
- GS1 Digital Link — URI syntax linking GS1 identifiers to DPP data endpoints
- JSON-LD / Linked Data — structured data format enabling machine-readable, context-aware DPP data
- W3C Verifiable Credentials — cryptographic standard for issuing verifiable claims (certifications, compliance declarations)
Semantic interoperability:
- IEC CDD (Common Data Dictionary) — standardised data element definitions to ensure that "recycled content" means the same thing in every DPP
- ESPR Annex III: the list of information elements from which each delegated act selects its product group's DPP data (Article 9(2)(a)). It is not a fixed minimum set of fields or a data model
Registry and resolution:
- GS1 Global Data Infrastructure (GDI) — the backbone for identifier resolution globally
- EU DPP Registry — the authoritative EU resolver for ESPR product identifiers
Sector-specific implementations
Different sectors are advancing interoperability at different speeds. The Battery Regulation's digital battery passport has the most developed standards work, driven by the Battery Pass consortium (2022–2025) and the Global Battery Alliance. The technical guidance published by Battery Pass (2024) defines the data model, API specifications, and verification protocols that ESPR product DPPs are expected to follow as a reference implementation.
Related terms
- Digital Product Passport (DPP) — the standard requiring interoperability
- Data Carrier — the physical interface using interoperable identifier standards
- Unique Identifier — the globally unique code enabling cross-system resolution
- DPP Registry — the EU resolution infrastructure
Source
- ESPR Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, Article 10 — EUR-Lex
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736 on harmonised DPP standards, EUR-Lex
- CEN-CLC/JTC 24 published standards, including EN 18239:2026 and EN 18246:2026, CEN-CENELEC
- ISO/IEC JTC 5 Digital Product Passport, ISO
- SNV news on the digital product passport and standards, 27 May 2026
- Battery Pass Technical Guidance (2024)