The Digital Product Passport (DPP) for Detergents under EU Regulation 2026/405

The Digital Product Passport (DPP)

With the new Regulation (EU) 2026/405 on detergents and surfactants, the European Union introduces significant changes regarding transparency, traceability, and digital management of product information.

Among the most innovative tools is the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which is expected to become a central element in the management of compliance data for the chemical industry.

The Digital Product Passport does not originate directly from the detergents regulation. Instead, it derives from a broader regulatory framework introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR – Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).

For companies producing or distributing detergents, the DPP represents both a new regulatory challenge and an opportunity to digitalize the management of:

• product information
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• regulatory compliance data

What is the Digital Product Passport (DPP)

The Digital Product Passport is a tool introduced within the EU’s sustainability strategy and is progressively being applied across different sectors with several objectives:

• Ensuring product transparency
• Supporting the circular economy by facilitating reuse, repair, and recycling
• Improving supply chain traceability
• Enabling better regulatory oversight
• Informing consumers and encouraging informed purchasing decisions

The goal is to create a standardized digital system that allows easy access to product information throughout the entire product lifecycle.

In the chemical sector, this translates into a more structured management of technical information, ingredients, and safety data.

Digital Product Passport for Detergents and Surfactants: When It Is Required

The DPP must be created before the product is placed on the market and must be associated with a specific model of detergent or surfactant.

A model refers to a group of products that simultaneously meet the following conditions:

• they have the same manufacturer and trade name
• they contain the same ingredients listed in Annex V Part A (surfactants, phosphates, EDTA, preservatives and allergens, enzymes, microorganisms, optical brighteners, and soaps)
• they share the same classification under the CLP Regulation
• they are defined by a type number allowing them to be identified as a group

This structure helps standardize product data management, simplifying regulatory compliance.

How to Access the Digital Product Passport

The digital passport must be accessible through a scannable data carrier, such as:

• QR code
• barcode
• two-dimensional symbol

The data carrier must meet the following requirements:

• It must be permanently affixed to the product label, packaging, accompanying documents, or — where relevant — to the refill station.
• It must be accompanied by the wording “Scan for more information” or similar wording.
• It must be accessible and readable by most operating systems and browsers, and available even before purchase.
• A copy must also be provided to online suppliers.

What Information Must the DPP Contain

The digital passport for detergents must include at least the following information:

• the trade name, unique identifier, and a color image of the packaging or label of the model
• the manufacturer’s details (name, address, email, phone number) and unique operator identifier
• the reference to the DPP service provider hosting the backup copy of the digital passport
• the product traceability identifier
• a statement confirming that the DPP is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer
• commodity codes, where applicable
• a declaration of compliance with the detergents regulation and, where relevant, other applicable regulations
• the complete list of intentionally added substances (not required for industrial and institutional products with SDS containing the same information)
• the list of all intentionally added microorganisms, including their taxonomic classification

Additionally, the DPP may also include:

• label elements referred to in Annex V Part A
• dosage information for the detergent or surfactant

The DPP must be available in the language(s) of the Member State where the product is placed on the market and must remain accessible for at least 10 years.

European Registry of Digital Product Passports

Before placing a detergent on the market, the manufacturer must:

1. Upload the following information to the European Digital Product Passport Registry:
   • the product’s unique identifier
   • the unique operator identifier
2. Automatically receive from the registry the registration identifier associated with the product.

If a detergent or surfactant is subject to the Digital Product Passport requirement under other EU regulations, the same three identifiers must be used.

The European registry will become a key tool for:

• product traceability
• regulatory oversight
• interoperability of product data

FAQ – Digital Product Passport (DPP)

Implications for Chemical Companies

The introduction of the DPP requires more structured management of product and regulatory compliance data.

Companies will need to manage in an integrated way:

• product data
• ingredient information
• CLP classification
• SDS data
• regulatory traceability

This makes it increasingly necessary to adopt software solutions for managing Safety Data Sheets and regulatory information.

How to Prepare for the Digital Product Passport

Companies in the chemical and detergents sector should start preparing by:

• digitalizing product information
• centralizing SDS data and CLP classifications
• structuring ingredient and formulation databases
• adopting regulatory compliance management software

Preparing for the Digital Product Passport

European regulations are transforming the way chemical information is managed.

Software solutions for automated SDS and regulatory data management allow companies to:

• manage CLP classifications
• centralize ingredients and formulations
• generate regulatory documentation
• prepare for the introduction of the Digital Product Passport

The Detergents Module x.648 of the EPY X SDS automation software enables companies to manage the current obligations of the EU Detergents Regulation in a structured way and prepare for upcoming regulatory developments.

👉 Request a demo of our SDS management software