Reference
EU product regulation timeline 2024 to 2030
The dates when EU rules on packaging, ecodesign, product safety, deforestation, green claims, accessibility and AI start to apply, and the product data each one requires.
ReferenceREG-TL12 milestones ยท as of 16 October 2026
- 13 Dec 2024GPSR appliesGeneral Product Safety Regulation sets product identification, warnings and responsible operator data for all consumer products.In application
- 2 Feb 2025AI Act prohibitions and AI literacyFirst AI Act obligations apply, including the AI literacy duty for organisations deploying AI.In application
- 11 Feb 2025PPWR enters into forceThe Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation becomes EU law, with a transition period to general application.In application
- 28 Jun 2025European Accessibility Act appliesE-commerce services must make product information and purchase flows accessible.In application
- 19 Jul 2026ESPR destruction ban and DPP registryLarge companies may no longer destroy unsold apparel and footwear, and the Commission DPP registry went live on schedule.In application
- 2 Aug 2026AI Act transparency dutiesArticle 50 transparency obligations apply; the Digital Omnibus left this date unchanged and gave older generative systems until 2 December 2026 for content marking.In application
- 12 Aug 2026PPWR general applicationMost PPWR provisions apply, including the PFAS restriction in food-contact packaging.In application
- 27 Sep 2026ECGT Directive appliesGeneric environmental claims and unverified sustainability labels become unfair commercial practices.In application
- 30 Dec 2026EUDR for large operatorsDeforestation due diligence applies to large and medium operators and traders, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650; micro and small operators follow on 30 June 2027.Next 12 months
- 18 Feb 2027Battery passport mandatoryEV, light means of transport and industrial batteries above 2 kWh need a digital battery passport.Next 12 months
- Aug 2028 (expected)Harmonised packaging labelsMaterial composition labels for sorting are expected to apply about two years after implementing acts.Later
- 1 Jan 2030Recyclability and recycled contentPackaging must be recyclable (grade C or better) and plastic packaging must meet first recycled content minimums.Later
Milestones and the data they require
Table view| Date | Milestone | What changes | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 2024 | GPSR appliesRegulation (EU) 2023/988 | General Product Safety Regulation sets product identification, warnings and responsible operator data for all consumer products. | GPSR product safety data: operators, warnings, traceability and recalls in the product record |
| 2 Feb 2025 | AI Act prohibitions and AI literacyRegulation (EU) 2024/1689 | First AI Act obligations apply, including the AI literacy duty for organisations deploying AI. | What the EU AI Act (EU) 2024/1689 means for product content teams |
| 11 Feb 2025 | PPWR enters into forceRegulation (EU) 2025/40 | The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation becomes EU law, with a transition period to general application. | PPWR explained: what the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requires and why it is a product data problem |
| 28 Jun 2025 | European Accessibility Act appliesDirective (EU) 2019/882 | E-commerce services must make product information and purchase flows accessible. | European Accessibility Act and product content: alt text, documents and WCAG requirements for PIM and DAM |
| 19 Jul 2026 | ESPR destruction ban and DPP registryRegulation (EU) 2024/1781 | Large companies may no longer destroy unsold apparel and footwear, and the Commission DPP registry went live on schedule. | ESPR, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: scope, delegated acts and what product teams must prepare |
| 2 Aug 2026 | AI Act transparency dutiesRegulation (EU) 2024/1689 | Article 50 transparency obligations apply; the Digital Omnibus left this date unchanged and gave older generative systems until 2 December 2026 for content marking. | What the EU AI Act (EU) 2024/1689 means for product content teams |
| 12 Aug 2026 | PPWR general applicationRegulation (EU) 2025/40 | Most PPWR provisions apply, including the PFAS restriction in food-contact packaging. | PPWR timeline: obligations and deadlines from entry into force to the 2040 targets |
| 27 Sep 2026 | ECGT Directive appliesDirective (EU) 2024/825 | Generic environmental claims and unverified sustainability labels become unfair commercial practices. | Green claims under the ECGT Directive: banned wording, sustainability labels and claims governance in product content |
| 30 Dec 2026 | EUDR for large operatorsRegulation (EU) 2023/1115 | Deforestation due diligence applies to large and medium operators and traders, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2650; micro and small operators follow on 30 June 2027. | EUDR deforestation traceability: commodities, geolocation, due diligence statements and the data behind them |
| 18 Feb 2027 | Battery passport mandatoryRegulation (EU) 2023/1542 | EV, light means of transport and industrial batteries above 2 kWh need a digital battery passport. | The EU battery passport: data fields, deadlines and responsibilities under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 |
| Aug 2028 (expected) | Harmonised packaging labelsRegulation (EU) 2025/40 | Material composition labels for sorting are expected to apply about two years after implementing acts. | PPWR labelling and EPR: harmonised sorting labels, QR codes, producer reporting and fee modulation |
| 1 Jan 2030 | Recyclability and recycled contentRegulation (EU) 2025/40 | Packaging must be recyclable (grade C or better) and plastic packaging must meet first recycled content minimums. | Recyclability under PPWR: design-for-recycling criteria, performance grades and the component data behind them |
Dates marked expected depend on secondary legislation. Check the official text before acting on a date.
Frequently asked questions
Which EU regulations affect product data in 2026 and 2027?
The main ones are PPWR (general application 12 August 2026), the ECGT Directive on green claims (27 September 2026), ESPR and its Digital Product Passport delegated acts, the EU Deforestation Regulation for large operators (30 December 2026, as amended) and the battery passport (18 February 2027).
Which system should hold regulatory product data?
Technical and material data usually originates in PLM or ERP, commercial and label data in PIM, and evidence documents in a DAM or document system. Assign one owner per data domain and publish to passports and labels from the system that owns each attribute.
Are these dates final?
Dates in force by law are final unless amended. Dates that depend on delegated or implementing acts, such as harmonised packaging labels or sector Digital Product Passports, are expected dates. Several 2025 Omnibus proposals may still shift sustainability and AI obligations.