Prepare for EU’s DPP, exporters told

The country’s largest exporters’ group is urging businesses to prepare for major changes as the European Union (EU) rolls out a new system next year requiring detailed product environmental impact information as part of its sustainability goals.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said the regional bloc’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) would be implemented as a central element of its Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

DPP is a digital record that contains crucial information regarding a product’s sustainability, circularity and compliance with legal standards.

Citing the European Union website, the trade association said DPP would feature key details such as a unique product identifier, compliance documentation and information on substances of concern. It would include user manuals, safety instructions and guidance on proper product disposal, it added.

Meanwhile, ESPR is part of the set of regulations under the European Green Deal, which supports the 27-country group’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

“Under the ESPR, nearly all physical products sold in the EU will feature a DPP, making it imperative for even businesses outside the EU to comply if they wish to sell their products within the EU market,” Philexport said.

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ESPR, which took effect on July 18, 2024, is not legally enforceable until 2026, but many companies worldwide have already started implementing DPP initiatives, Philexport said.

According to the European Commission, total trade in goods between the EU and the Philippines reached 16.1 billion Euros in 2023.