The DPP Registry has its rulebook - and the ban on destroying unsold clothes is in force
July 2026 delivered two concrete pieces of the EU product-rules puzzle. The DPP Registry got its official rulebook - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778, in force from 6 August - and on 19 July the ESPR ban on destroying unsold clothing started to apply to large companies. Neither means your products need a passport yet. Both tell you exactly where this is going.
The registry now has rules
The Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778 on 16 July 2026; it was published in the Official Journal a day later and enters into force on 6 August 2026. It is the operating manual for the central DPP Registry that went live on 20 July: who can register passports, how users are verified, how data registration and the technical architecture work.
Three details worth your attention:
- The registry is a directory, not a database of your product data. It stores unique identifiers and points to where a passport lives. Your data stays on your own (or your DPP provider's) infrastructure and is found via GS1 Digital Link.
- Registering requires becoming a verified economic operator. Verification relies on eIDAS identity means and remains valid for up to three years. Expect onboarding friction - especially for brands based outside the EU.
- A testing environment runs alongside the production registry. For now this matters mostly to battery manufacturers, whose deadline comes first.
The destruction ban is in force - and it lands on fashion first
Separately, since 19 July 2026 Article 25 of ESPR prohibits large companies from destroying unsold consumer apparel, clothing accessories and footwear. Medium-sized companies have until 19 July 2030; micro and small companies are exempt.
Why does this matter on a DPP blog? Because it is the first ESPR obligation that actually bites, and it hits fashion before anyone else. It shows how enforcement will work, and it forces large retailers to track what happens to every unsold item - pressure that flows down the supply chain to the smaller brands that stock them.
What has NOT changed
No product category has a passport obligation today. The first hard date remains batteries: 18 February 2027. For textiles, the delegated act is expected in 2027 and real obligations land realistically in 2028-2029. A working registry with a rulebook still does not equal "DPP is mandatory".
What to do with this
- Selling apparel at scale? Check your company size against the ESPR thresholds and review what happens to unsold stock - returns included.
- Any brand: put your category's date in the deadline calendar and we will email you when it moves.
- Batteries: use the testing environment early - verified-operator onboarding takes time.
FAQ
Does Regulation 2026/1778 make the DPP mandatory?
No. It only defines how the registry operates. Product-level obligations arrive per category via delegated acts - batteries on 18 February 2027, textiles realistically 2028-2029.
Who does the clothing destruction ban apply to?
Large companies since 19 July 2026, medium-sized from 19 July 2030. Micro and small companies are exempt.
Will my passport data be stored in the EU registry?
No. The registry stores identifiers and points to your passport's location. The data itself stays with you or your DPP service provider.
Do I need to register anything today?
Almost certainly not. The first registrations that matter are battery passports ahead of February 2027. Fashion brands have time - use it to get your product data in order.