Unique Identifier
Definition
A unique identifier is a machine-readable code that unambiguously identifies a product and links it to its Digital Product Passport. Under ESPR Article 9, every product subject to a DPP obligation must carry a unique identifier encoded in its data carrier (typically a QR code). The DPP Registry issues or validates these identifiers, ensuring global uniqueness across the EU market.
Granularity levels
ESPR Article 10 defines three levels at which unique identifiers can operate, with the required level set by the product category's delegated act:
| Level | Identifies | Used when | |-------|-----------|-----------| | Model level | All products of the same design (same SKU) | Low-value, homogeneous products where item-level tracking is disproportionate | | Batch level | Products manufactured in the same production run | Products where manufacturing variation is possible (chemicals, electronics) | | Item level | Each individual physical product unit | High-value products (EV batteries, machinery) where individual tracking is required |
The Battery Regulation requires item-level unique identifiers for EV batteries (serialised to individual cells or packs) — the most granular tier and the industry's most demanding current example.
Identifier standards
ESPR does not mandate a specific identifier format but requires interoperability with global identifier standards. The most widely used system is GS1:
- GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) — identifies a product model
- SGTIN (Serialised GTIN) — adds a serial number for item-level identification
- SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) — for logistics and batch-level tracking
- GS1 Digital Link URI — the syntax that encodes GS1 identifiers into a URL-based QR code, enabling the same barcode used in retail and logistics to serve as the DPP access point
Using GS1 identifiers means companies can extend existing supply chain identification systems to serve DPP purposes — avoiding the need for a separate identifier infrastructure.
Registry and uniqueness
The DPP Registry (operational from July 2026) is the authority that ensures uniqueness. Before placing a product on the EU market, the economic operator must register the product's unique identifier with the Registry. Attempting to place a product with an unregistered or duplicate identifier is a compliance violation detectable by market surveillance and customs.
Related terms
- Data Carrier — the physical interface encoding the unique identifier
- DPP Registry — the EU system that validates unique identifiers
- Digital Product Passport (DPP) — what the unique identifier links to
- Interoperability — how identifier standards enable DPP data exchange across systems