EU Battery Regulation & Digital Battery Passport
The first mandatory Digital Product Passport in the EU. Complete timeline of all obligations from carbon footprint declarations to the Battery Passport deadline of February 2027.
Overview
The EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542) establishes comprehensive lifecycle requirements for all batteries placed on the EU market. It introduces the first mandatory Digital Product Passport in the EU — the Digital Battery Passport — with phased obligations running from 2024 through 2036.
Legal basis
- Proposed: 10 December 2020
- Adopted: 12 July 2023
- Published in OJ: 28 July 2023
- Entered into force: 17 August 2023
- Applicable from: 18 February 2024
- Replaces: Battery Directive 2006/66/EC (fully repealed 18 August 2025)
Battery categories
| Category | Abbreviation | Definition | |----------|-------------|------------| | Portable | POR | Up to 5 kg, sealed, not industrial | | Light Means of Transport | LMT | Up to 25 kg (e-bikes, e-scooters) | | Starting/Lighting/Ignition | SLI | Automotive starter batteries | | Electric Vehicle | EV | Over 25 kg, for electric road vehicles | | Stationary Energy Storage | ESS | Grid/off-grid energy storage | | Industrial | IND | Over 5 kg, industrial applications |
Digital Battery Passport
Mandatory from: 18 February 2027 for all EV, LMT, and industrial batteries with capacity >2 kWh.
Each battery must carry a QR code linking to a digital passport containing:
- Unique identifier code
- Chemical composition by weight (active materials, electrolytes)
- Carbon footprint (by manufacturing plant)
- Recycled content percentages (cobalt, lithium, nickel)
- State of health and remaining capacity data
- Expected and actual lifespan
- Recycling/repurposing instructions
- Supply chain traceability data
- Due diligence documentation references
- Safety information
Carbon footprint requirements
| Date | Batteries affected | |------|--------------------| | February 2025 | EV batteries | | February 2026 | Industrial rechargeable >2 kWh | | August 2028 | LMT batteries | | August 2030 | Stationary ESS >2 kWh |
Batteries will be classified A-D based on rolling 3-year market data.
Due diligence requirements
Mandatory from 18 August 2027 for companies with turnover >40M.
Required actions:
- Adopt and publicly communicate a due diligence policy (OECD Guidelines)
- Establish management system for supply chain risk identification
- Conduct risk assessment for: cobalt, lithium, nickel, natural graphite
- Implement risk mitigation strategies
- Undergo independent third-party audit
- Report annually to Commission
Complete obligation timeline
2024
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | 18 Feb | Regulation applicable; hazardous substance limits | All | | 18 Aug | Safety requirements for stationary ESS | ESS | | 18 Aug | CE marking mandatory | POR, SLI, IND | | 18 Aug | Performance and durability requirements | LMT, EV, IND |
2025
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | 18 Feb | Carbon footprint declaration | EV batteries | | 18 Aug | Collection symbol labelling | All | | 18 Aug | Extended Producer Responsibility schemes | All | | 18 Aug | Old Battery Directive fully repealed | — |
2026
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | 18 Feb | Carbon footprint declaration | Industrial >2 kWh |
2027
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | 18 Feb | Digital Battery Passport mandatory | EV, LMT, IND >2 kWh | | 18 Feb | QR code marking required | All | | 18 Feb | Portable battery removability by end users | POR | | 18 Aug | Due diligence obligations | Companies >40M | | 31 Dec | Recycling targets: 90% Co/Cu/Ni/Pb, 50% Li | Recyclers |
2028
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | 18 Aug | Minimum recycled content (Co, Li, Ni) | EV, IND, SLI | | 18 Aug | Carbon footprint declaration | LMT batteries |
2029-2036
| Date | Obligation | Categories | |------|-----------|------------| | Aug 2030 | Carbon footprint declaration | ESS >2 kWh | | Dec 2030 | Portable collection: 73% target | POR | | 2033 | Carbon footprint performance thresholds binding | EV, IND | | 2036 | Tighter recycled content requirements (phase 2) | EV, IND |
Penalties
Maximum administrative fine: €10 million or 2% of total annual worldwide turnover, whichever is higher (Art. 89). Member states must establish penalty systems; national implementation is ongoing as of early 2026. Additional enforcement consequences include:
- Market exclusion — non-compliant batteries cannot be placed on the EU market
- Product withdrawal or recall
- Exclusion from public procurement
- Criminal liability in member states with stricter national implementation
Who is affected
Primary obligations fall on the first company placing a battery on the EU market:
- Manufacturers of EV, LMT, and industrial batteries with capacity >2 kWh
- Importers — bear primary DPP and due diligence liability where the manufacturer is outside the EU
- Distributors — must verify compliance markings are present before making batteries available
Due diligence obligations (Art. 14, from 18 August 2027) apply to companies with annual turnover above €40 million placing in-scope batteries on the EU market.
Key articles
| Article | Subject | |---------|---------| | Art. 13 | Labelling — CE marking, capacity, date of manufacture, QR code | | Art. 14 | Supply chain due diligence — cobalt, lithium, nickel, natural graphite | | Art. 77 | Digital battery passport — general requirements | | Art. 78 | QR code and data carrier requirements | | Art. 79 | Data accessibility and operator obligations | | Art. 89 | Penalties — maximum €10 million or 2% of annual worldwide turnover | | Annex XIII | Minimum DPP data fields (90+ data points) |