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Digital Product Passport & Product Data Glossary

A source-led glossary of Digital Product Passport, ESPR, Registry, standards, identity, data-carrier and freshness terms, each linked to its canonical explanation.

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This is one controlled vocabulary for the terms that most often change the meaning of a Digital Product Passport question. It is deliberately one page, not 77 thin pages. Definitions here are short. The linked canonical Knowledge page owns the deeper explanation, examples and edge cases. Where the law, standards or source version changes the meaning, the glossary entry should move with that source.

Quick index

A Access rights · Adopted · Applies

C Carbon footprint · CBAM · CE marking · CELEX · CEN-CENELEC JTC 24 · Chain of custody · CIRPASS · CLP · Conformity assessment · CPR · CRA · CRMA

D Data carrier · Delegated act · Digital Product Passport · DPP Registry · DPP service provider · Due diligence

E ECHA · Economic operator · Empowering Consumers Directive · EPCIS · EPR · EPREL · ERP · ESPR · EUDR

G GDPR · GPSR · Granularity · Green Claims Directive · GS1 · GS1 Application Identifier · GS1 DataMatrix · GS1 Digital Link · GTIN

H Harmonised standard

I Implementing act · In force · Indicative timeline · Item-level identity

J JRC

L Last verified · Legitimate interest

M Making available on the market · Market surveillance · MDR

N NFC

O Official Journal citation

P PIM · Placing on the market · PLM · PPWR · Presumption of conformity · Primary source · Proof of registration

Q QR code

R REACH · RED · Resolver · Right to repair

S SCIP · SDS · Serialisation · SKU · Source version · System of record

T Traceability

U Unique Product Identifier · Unique Registration Identifier · UOI · URI

W WEEE · What would change this page

Access rights

Also used as: public/restricted access; role-based access Source family: Product-specific DPP law / standards

Rules determining which actors may access which DPP data.

Context: The exact rights depend on the applicable product legislation and technical implementation.

Common confusion: Assuming all DPP fields are public.

Related: Legitimate interest · GDPR

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Which Battery Passport Data Is Public, Restricted or Limited to Legitimate-Interest Users?

Adopted

Also used as: adoption Source family: EU legal status

The institution has formally adopted the act.

Context: Adoption is distinct from publication, entry into force and application.

Common confusion: Using adopted, in force and applies as synonyms.

Related: In force · Applies · Delegated act

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

Applies

Also used as: application date; applicable from Source family: EU legal status

The date from which specified provisions or obligations are to be applied.

Context: Check the exact article, product scope and transitional provisions.

Common confusion: Confusing application with adoption or planning dates.

Related: Adopted · In force

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

Carbon footprint

Source family: Environmental evidence

A calculated figure for the greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a product, which depends entirely on the method and boundary used.

Context: Two figures for the same product are not comparable unless the method and boundary match.

Common confusion: Comparing footprints calculated under different rules.

Related: CBAM

Canonical Knowledge owner: Carbon, Water and Environmental Data in a Textile DPP

CBAM

Also used as: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Source family: EU law

The EU mechanism that puts a carbon price on certain imported goods, with its own reporting and declarant duties.

Context: CBAM covers a defined list of goods, not the whole import book.

Common confusion: Reading CBAM data as a product carbon footprint.

Related: Carbon footprint

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/956/

CE marking

Source family: EU product law Source status: definition withheld, primary source not yet confirmed

ActivateDigital has not yet confirmed a primary source for this term, so no definition is published for it here. The term is recognised and tracked, and this entry will carry a definition when the source is confirmed.

Related: Conformity assessment · Presumption of conformity

Canonical Knowledge owner: Can a Digital Product Passport Replace Labels, Manuals or CE Marking?

CELEX

Also used as: CELEX number Source family: EU legal citation

The stable identifier EUR-Lex gives to a legal document, used to cite an exact text rather than a landing page.

Context: A CELEX number pins the document. It does not pin the consolidated version date.

Related: Primary source · Source version

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: How ActivateDigital Determines DPP Regulatory Status and Uses Sources

CEN-CENELEC JTC 24

Also used as: JTC 24 Source family: European standardisation

The joint European technical committee that developed the horizontal DPP standards set requested by the Commission.

Context: Standards-body output is distinct from EU legal acts and OJ citation.

Common confusion: Treating JTC 24 statements as binding law.

Related: Harmonised standard

Primary/official source: https://www.cencenelec.eu/news-events/news/2026/en-in-the-spotlight/2026-07-15-dpp/ Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP Standards and Presumption of Conformity

Chain of custody

Source family: Certification and evidence Source status: definition withheld, primary source not yet confirmed

ActivateDigital has not yet confirmed a primary source for this term, so no definition is published for it here. The term is recognised and tracked, and this entry will carry a definition when the source is confirmed.

Related: Traceability

CIRPASS

Source family: EU-funded project Source status: definition withheld, primary source not yet confirmed

ActivateDigital has not yet confirmed a primary source for this term, so no definition is published for it here. The term is recognised and tracked, and this entry will carry a definition when the source is confirmed.

Related: Digital Product Passport

CLP

Also used as: Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation on classifying, labelling and packaging substances and mixtures.

Context: CLP drives hazard labelling, which is a different duty from passport content.

Common confusion: Expecting hazard labels to move into a passport automatically.

Related: REACH · SDS

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/oj

Conformity assessment

Source family: EU product law Source status: definition withheld, primary source not yet confirmed

ActivateDigital has not yet confirmed a primary source for this term, so no definition is published for it here. The term is recognised and tracked, and this entry will carry a definition when the source is confirmed.

Related: Presumption of conformity · CE marking · Market surveillance

Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Checks Digital Product Passport Information? Registration, Evidence, Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance

CPR

Also used as: Construction Products Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation for construction products, which carries its own product passport provisions.

Context: Construction products have a passport route of their own, separate from the ESPR one.

Common confusion: Assuming the ESPR passport rules cover construction products.

Related: ESPR · Digital Product Passport

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3110/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Construction Product Digital Product Passport Requirements

CRA

Also used as: Cyber Resilience Act Source family: EU law

The EU regulation setting cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements.

Common confusion: Reading CRA as a corporate reporting acronym.

Related: RED

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2847/oj/eng Canonical Knowledge owner: Connected Toys: Toy, Radio Product, Cyber Product or Several at Once?

CRMA

Also used as: Critical Raw Materials Act Source family: EU law

The EU regulation on critical raw materials, which sets data and circularity duties for certain components.

Related: Data carrier

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Critical Raw Materials Act: Permanent-Magnet Data Carriers and Passport Reuse

Data carrier

Also used as: 2D carrier Source family: ESPR / product-specific rule

The machine-readable carrier through which the DPP can be accessed.

Context: The permitted carrier and placement can be product-specific.

Common confusion: Treating QR as universally mandatory.

Related: QR code · GS1 DataMatrix · NFC

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport/explore-our-faqs_en Canonical Knowledge owner: 2D Product Identity Map: QR Code vs GS1 DataMatrix vs Data Matrix with GS1 Digital Link

Delegated act

Also used as: DA Source family: EU law

A Commission act that supplements or amends non-essential elements of a legislative act where the legislature has delegated that power.

Context: Use the specific legal basis and adopted text for each product group.

Common confusion: Confusing an announced adoption year with an adopted delegated act or compliance date.

Related: Implementing act · ESPR · Indicative timeline

Primary/official source: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/adopting-eu-law/implementing-and-delegated-acts_en Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

Digital Product Passport

Also used as: DPP Source family: ESPR / product-specific law

A set of product-specific data made electronically accessible through a data carrier under the applicable DPP rules.

Context: Exact contents, granularity, access and application date depend on the applicable legal act.

Common confusion: Treating one generic DPP data list as universal.

Related: ESPR · DPP Registry · Data carrier · Unique Product Identifier

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Digital Product Passport Requirements by Product Category

DPP Registry

Also used as: EU Digital Product Passport Registry Source family: ESPR + Implementing Regulation 2026/1778

The EU registry that stores required DPP registration information, including at least unique identifiers, under the applicable rules.

Context: It is not the same thing as the complete decentralised passport dataset.

Common confusion: Calling it the central database containing the full product passport.

Related: Unique Registration Identifier · Proof of registration · Digital Product Passport

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1778/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: The EU DPP Registry: what it stores and where passport data lives

DPP service provider

Also used as: service provider; third-party DPP provider Source family: ESPR / future delegated act / standards

A provider that performs DPP-related services under the legal and technical framework.

Context: Specific provider requirements can depend on future delegated rules.

Common confusion: Treating current vendor practice as the final legal provider regime.

Related: DPP Registry

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP Service Providers: What the Law Actually Requires

Due diligence

Source family: EU law

The documented checks a company has to carry out on its supply chain before it can place certain products on the market.

Related: EUDR · Chain of custody

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115 Canonical Knowledge owner: EUDR: Dates, Geolocation Data and What Product Teams Actually Need

ECHA

Also used as: European Chemicals Agency Source family: EU agency

The EU agency that runs the chemicals regimes, including the Candidate List and the SCIP database.

Context: ECHA operates the systems. The obligations themselves come from the underlying law.

Common confusion: Treating ECHA guidance as the legal text.

Related: SCIP · REACH

Primary/official source: https://echa.europa.eu/scip-database

Economic operator

Also used as: manufacturer; importer; authorised representative where applicable Source family: EU product law

A legally defined market actor with obligations under the applicable EU product legislation.

Context: Which role carries the DPP duty depends on the applicable act and supply-chain position.

Common confusion: Assuming "brand" or "seller" always means the responsible economic operator.

Related: Placing on the market · Making available on the market · UOI

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Needs a Digital Product Passport?

Empowering Consumers Directive

Also used as: Directive (EU) 2024/825 Source family: EU law

The EU directive on empowering consumers for the green transition, which restricts generic environmental claims.

Common confusion: Confusing it with the Green Claims Directive, which is a separate proposal.

Related: Green Claims Directive

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/825/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: What Environmental Claims Can You Still Make in the EU from 27 September 2026?

EPCIS

Also used as: Electronic Product Code Information Services; EPCIS events Source family: GS1 standard Current version: 2.0.1

A GS1 standard for recording and sharing supply-chain events, covering what happened to which object, when, where and why.

Context: Event data answers what happened. It does not replace the product master data that says what the product is.

Common confusion: Treating an event log as the passport dataset.

Related: Traceability · GS1 Digital Link · GTIN

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/epcis/2.0.1/ Canonical Knowledge owner: What Do EPCIS Events Add to Product Master Data?

EPR

Also used as: Extended producer responsibility Source family: EU law

A scheme that makes the producer responsible, usually through fees and registration, for a product after it is sold.

Context: EPR is set up nationally, so registration and fees differ by member state.

Common confusion: Expecting one EU registration and one EU fee.

Related: WEEE · PPWR

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2025/1892/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: EU Textile EPR: Dates, Registration and the Product Data Behind Producer Fees

EPREL

Also used as: European Product Registry for Energy Labelling Source family: EU product-data system

The EU registry used for products subject to energy-labelling/ecodesign registration requirements.

Context: It is a separate system from the DPP Registry, though reuse/interoperability questions can arise.

Common confusion: Assuming a DPP automatically replaces EPREL.

Related: Digital Product Passport · DPP Registry

Primary/official source: https://energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu/eprel_en Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP vs EPREL: Does EPREL Replace, Feed or Sit Alongside a Digital Product Passport?

ERP

Also used as: Enterprise Resource Planning Source family: Product data systems

The system that runs commercial and operational transactions, and usually holds the authoritative commercial product record.

Related: PIM · PLM · System of record

Canonical Knowledge owner: Which System Should Own Each Product Fact?

ESPR

Also used as: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation; Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 Source family: EU law

EU framework regulation for ecodesign requirements across product groups, including the DPP framework.

Context: It is a framework; product-specific obligations are set through applicable rules.

Common confusion: "ESPR applies" is not the same as "this product already needs a DPP".

Related: Digital Product Passport · Delegated act · Implementing act

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

EUDR

Also used as: EU Deforestation Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation on deforestation-free products, which requires geolocation data and a due diligence statement for covered commodities.

Context: EUDR data is plot-level geolocation, which most product catalogues do not hold.

Common confusion: Assuming supplier declarations satisfy the geolocation requirement.

Related: Due diligence · Chain of custody

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115 Canonical Knowledge owner: EUDR: Dates, Geolocation Data and What Product Teams Actually Need

GDPR

Also used as: General Data Protection Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation governing personal data, which applies wherever passport or scan data identifies a person.

Context: Product data is not personal data, but repair records, ownership and scan logs can be.

Common confusion: Assuming a product passport is outside data protection law.

Related: Legitimate interest · Access rights

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504 Canonical Knowledge owner: Digital Product Passports and Personal Data: Where GDPR May Apply

GPSR

Also used as: General Product Safety Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation setting general safety duties and the product information an online listing has to show.

Context: GPSR duties apply now and are independent of any passport requirement.

Common confusion: Treating safety information duties as passport fields.

Related: Market surveillance · Economic operator

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/988/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: What Product Information Must an EU Online Listing Show Under the GPSR?

Granularity

Source family: DPP architecture / product-specific rule

The level at which a passport/identifier applies, such as model, batch or individual item.

Context: The required level can vary by product/regime.

Common confusion: Assuming item-level serialization for every DPP.

Related: Item-level identity · Serialisation · Unique Product Identifier

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Model, Batch or Item Level for a Textile Passport

Green Claims Directive

Source family: EU legislative procedure

A separate EU proposal on substantiating environmental claims, which has not followed the same path as the Empowering Consumers Directive.

Common confusion: Citing it as adopted law.

Related: Empowering Consumers Directive

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/procedure/EN/2023_85 Canonical Knowledge owner: What Actually Happened to the Green Claims Directive?

GS1

Source family: Industry standards body

The standards organisation behind the identification keys, barcodes and data standards used across retail and supply chains.

Context: GS1 output is an industry standard. It becomes an EU legal requirement only where an applicable act or cited standard says so.

Common confusion: Reading a GS1 specification as EU law.

Related: GTIN · GS1 Digital Link · EPCIS

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/

GS1 Application Identifier

Also used as: GS1 Application Identifier; Application Identifier; AI code Source family: GS1 standard

A short numeric prefix that says what the data element after it means, such as a batch number, a serial number or an expiry date.

Context: Application Identifiers describe the structure of encoded data. They do not decide which fields a passport must carry.

Common confusion: Reading AI as artificial intelligence in a barcode context.

Related: GTIN · GS1 Digital Link

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/genspecs/ Canonical Knowledge owner: GS1 Application Identifiers for Digital Product Passports: GTIN, Batch, Serial, Expiry and Variant

GS1 DataMatrix

Source family: GS1 standard

A two-dimensional barcode symbol carrying GS1 data, used where more data is needed than a linear barcode can hold.

Common confusion: Using Data Matrix and GS1 DataMatrix as the same thing.

Related: QR code · Data carrier · GS1 Application Identifier

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/guidelines/2d-in-retail/ Canonical Knowledge owner: 2D Product Identity Map: QR Code vs GS1 DataMatrix vs Data Matrix with GS1 Digital Link

GTIN

Also used as: Global Trade Item Number Source family: GS1 identifier

A GS1 identification key for trade items.

Context: Whether it is the chosen/required DPP product identifier depends on the applicable system/rules.

Common confusion: Treating every UPI as automatically a GTIN.

Related: GS1 Digital Link · Unique Product Identifier · SKU

Primary/official source: https://www.gs1.org/standards/id-keys/gtin Canonical Knowledge owner: GS1 Application Identifiers for Digital Product Passports: GTIN, Batch, Serial, Expiry and Variant

Harmonised standard

Also used as: European harmonised standard Source family: EU standardisation

A European standard whose reference can be published in the Official Journal for the relevant EU legislation, potentially supporting presumption of conformity for covered requirements.

Context: Publication by CEN/CENELEC and OJ citation are distinct events.

Common confusion: Calling every EN standard "harmonised" before OJ citation.

Related: Presumption of conformity · Official Journal citation · CEN-CENELEC JTC 24

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/european-standards/harmonised-standards/digital-product-passport-dpp_en Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP Standards and Presumption of Conformity

Implementing act

Also used as: IA; implementing regulation; implementing decision Source family: EU law

A Commission act setting uniform conditions for implementing legally binding EU acts.

Context: Form and effect depend on the specific implementing act.

Common confusion: Treating every Commission implementation document as guidance.

Related: Delegated act · DPP Registry

Primary/official source: https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/adopting-eu-law/implementing-and-delegated-acts_en Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

In force

Also used as: entry into force Source family: EU legal status

The legal act has entered into force under its own provisions.

Context: A provision can be in force before its obligations apply to businesses.

Common confusion: Assuming in force means immediate compliance deadline.

Related: Adopted · Applies

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: How a DPP Requirement Moves from EU Planning to an Applicable Product Rule

Indicative timeline

Also used as: indicative date; planned adoption Source family: Commission planning

A non-binding planning date or window that can change and remains subject to the relevant legal/publication process.

Context: Do not present as a compliance deadline.

Common confusion: Turning Working Plan/DPP hub years into fixed legal dates.

Related: Delegated act · JRC

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport_en Canonical Knowledge owner: Digital Product Passport Timeline: What Applies When?

Item-level identity

Source family: Product identity

Identity assigned to one physical unit, so that data can follow that unit rather than the model it belongs to.

Context: Item-level identity is what lets repair, resale and recall records attach to a specific unit.

Common confusion: Assuming every passport regime requires it.

Related: Granularity · Serialisation · Unique Product Identifier

Canonical Knowledge owner: When Does Lifecycle Data Need to Follow the Individual Product?

JRC

Also used as: Joint Research Centre Source family: EU institution

The European Commission's in-house science service, which runs the preparatory studies behind ecodesign and passport rules.

Context: A JRC study is strong evidence of direction. It is not an adopted rule.

Common confusion: Reading a preparatory study as a legal requirement.

Related: Indicative timeline · Delegated act

Primary/official source: https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product-bureau/product-groups/642/register

Last verified

Also used as: verification date Source family: ActivateDigital editorial governance

The date an ActivateDigital editor/reviewer genuinely checked the page's material current claims against the relevant primary/official sources.

Context: It is not the build date, publication date or source update date.

Common confusion: Using dateModified as proof the law was rechecked.

Related: Primary source · Source version

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport_en Canonical Knowledge owner: How ActivateDigital Determines DPP Regulatory Status and Uses Sources

Legitimate interest

Also used as: legitimate-interest user Source family: Product-specific access rules

A legal/access concept used in certain DPP contexts to determine access beyond public data.

Context: Meaning and evidence requirements depend on the applicable act.

Common confusion: Treating it as a generic self-declared user role.

Related: Access rights · GDPR

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: Which Battery Passport Data Is Public, Restricted or Limited to Legitimate-Interest Users?

Making available on the market

Source family: EU product law

Any supply of a product for distribution, consumption or use on the EU market in the course of a commercial activity.

Context: Every later sale of a unit is a making available. Only the first one is a placing.

Common confusion: Using the two phrases as synonyms.

Related: Placing on the market · Economic operator

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Needs a Digital Product Passport?

Market surveillance

Source family: EU product law

The activities and measures by which authorities check that products on the market meet the applicable requirements.

Context: Surveillance authorities act after a product is on the market, not before.

Common confusion: Treating registration as approval by an authority.

Related: Economic operator · Conformity assessment

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Checks Digital Product Passport Information? Registration, Evidence, Conformity Assessment and Market Surveillance

MDR

Also used as: Medical Device Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation for medical devices, which decides classification by intended purpose.

Context: Intended purpose, not the technology, decides whether a device falls in scope.

Related: Conformity assessment

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/745/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Is a Beauty Device a Cosmetic Product, Electronic Product or Medical Device?

NFC

Also used as: Near Field Communication Source family: Implementation technology

A short-range wireless technology that can be used as a passport data carrier where the applicable rules allow it.

Related: Data carrier · QR code

Canonical Knowledge owner: QR, Data Matrix or NFC: Choosing a Lasting Carrier

Official Journal citation

Also used as: OJ citation; OJEU citation Source family: EU standardisation/legal status

Publication in the Official Journal of a reference to a harmonised standard under the relevant legal framework.

Context: Check the exact implementing decision and reference/version.

Common confusion: Equating standards-body release with OJ citation.

Related: Harmonised standard · CELEX

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1736/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP Standards and Presumption of Conformity

PIM

Also used as: Product Information Management Source family: Product data systems

A system for holding and publishing product marketing and specification data across channels.

Context: A PIM is a tool, not an obligation. Small catalogues can be governed without one.

Common confusion: Assuming passport readiness requires buying a PIM.

Related: ERP · PLM · System of record

Canonical Knowledge owner: How to Organise Product Data Without a PIM: A Small-Business Operating Model

Placing on the market

Source family: EU product law

The first making available of a product on the EU market, which is the moment most product duties attach.

Context: It happens once per product, and it decides which rules that unit has to meet.

Common confusion: Confusing it with making available, which is every later supply.

Related: Making available on the market · Economic operator

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1020/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Needs a Digital Product Passport?

PLM

Also used as: Product Lifecycle Management Source family: Product data systems

The system that holds development and specification data from design through to production.

Related: PIM · ERP · System of record

Canonical Knowledge owner: Which System Should Own Each Product Fact?

PPWR

Also used as: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Source family: EU law

The EU regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which sets its own labelling and information duties.

Context: Packaging duties are separate from the product's own passport duties.

Common confusion: Assuming one 2D code can satisfy packaging law and product law at once.

Related: Data carrier · QR code · EPR

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Does Packaging Need a DPP? PPWR QR Codes, Digital Carriers and the Single-Carrier Rule

Presumption of conformity

Also used as: PoC Source family: EU product law / harmonised standards

A legal effect that may arise for requirements covered by cited harmonised standards when the conditions of the applicable law are met.

Context: It applies to covered requirements, not an automatic blanket certification of the product.

Common confusion: "Uses a harmonised standard" = fully compliant with all product law.

Related: Harmonised standard · Conformity assessment

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1736/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: What the Six Published DPP Standards Actually Cover

Primary source

Also used as: primary authority; official source Source family: ActivateDigital editorial governance

The strongest direct legal, official, standards-body or authoritative system source supporting the page's central current claim, labelled by source layer.

Context: "Primary" does not mean every source has equal legal status.

Common confusion: Calling industry guidance a legal authority.

Related: Last verified · CELEX · Source version

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/ Canonical Knowledge owner: How ActivateDigital Determines DPP Regulatory Status and Uses Sources

Proof of registration

Also used as: registration evidence Source family: DPP Registry / legal status

Evidence that a required registration step has been completed in the DPP Registry.

Context: Registration/Registry identifier is not, by itself, proof that the product complies with all applicable EU law.

Common confusion: Treating Registry response as a compliance certificate.

Related: DPP Registry · Unique Registration Identifier

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP Proof of Registration: What It Actually Proves

QR code

Also used as: 2D barcode Source family: Implementation technology

A two-dimensional barcode that can be used as a DPP data carrier where the applicable rules allow or require it.

Context: QR-specific print/size rules are not automatically universal ESPR rules.

Common confusion: Treating vendor/GS1 print guidance as EU law.

Related: Data carrier · GS1 DataMatrix

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport/explore-our-faqs_en Canonical Knowledge owner: 2D Product Identity Map: QR Code vs GS1 DataMatrix vs Data Matrix with GS1 Digital Link

REACH

Also used as: Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Source family: EU law

The EU chemicals regulation that governs registration of substances and the duty to communicate substances of very high concern in articles.

Context: REACH Article 33 is the duty that sits behind a SCIP notification.

Common confusion: Assuming a passport discharges a REACH communication duty.

Related: SCIP · ECHA · CLP

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/oj

RED

Also used as: Radio Equipment Directive Source family: EU law

The EU directive for radio equipment, which applies to anything that transmits or receives radio waves.

Common confusion: RED is also an ordinary English word, so it is never matched automatically.

Related: CRA

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/53/oj/eng Canonical Knowledge owner: Connected Toys: Toy, Radio Product, Cyber Product or Several at Once?

Resolver

Also used as: link resolver; Digital Link resolver Source family: Web/DPP implementation

A service that maps an identifier or web-addressable identifier to one or more relevant information resources/services.

Context: Resolver behaviour is technical architecture, not itself proof of legal compliance.

Common confusion: Confusing resolver, Registry and DPP host.

Related: GS1 Digital Link · URI

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/ Canonical Knowledge owner: GS1 Digital Link for Digital Product Passports: What It Is and Whether You Need It

Right to repair

Source family: EU law

The EU directive promoting repair of goods, which adds duties about repair information and availability.

Related: Digital Product Passport

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1799/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: EU Right to Repair Directive: What Businesses Need to Do After 31 July 2026

SCIP

Also used as: Substances of Concern In articles as such or in complex objects (Products) Source family: ECHA / Waste Framework Directive system

ECHA database for information on substances of concern in articles under the applicable legal framework.

Context: It is separate from DPP and has its own data/operational rules.

Common confusion: Assuming DPP automatically replaces SCIP or that all SCIP data becomes public DPP data.

Related: REACH · ECHA · Digital Product Passport

Primary/official source: https://echa.europa.eu/scip-database Canonical Knowledge owner: DPP vs SCIP: Does a Digital Product Passport Replace a SCIP Notification?

SDS

Also used as: Safety data sheet Source family: EU chemicals law

The structured document that communicates hazard, handling and exposure information for a substance or mixture.

Context: An SDS has a defined legal audience and format. A passport does not replace it.

Common confusion: Assuming passport ingredient data discharges the SDS duty.

Related: REACH · CLP

Primary/official source: https://echa.europa.eu/safety-data-sheets Canonical Knowledge owner: Does a Detergent Digital Product Passport Replace a Safety Data Sheet?

Serialisation

Source family: Product identity

Giving each individual unit its own serial number so that it can be told apart from identical units.

Related: Item-level identity · Granularity

Canonical Knowledge owner: When Does Lifecycle Data Need to Follow the Individual Product?

SKU

Also used as: Stock Keeping Unit Source family: Commercial product data

A seller's own code for a distinct sellable item, set by the business rather than by any standard.

Context: An SKU is internal. It carries no meaning outside the business that issued it.

Common confusion: Using an SKU where a GTIN or a regulated product identifier is required.

Related: GTIN · Unique Product Identifier · Granularity

Canonical Knowledge owner: Which Product Facts Belong at Model, Variant and SKU Level?

Source version

Also used as: document version; source update date Source family: ActivateDigital editorial governance

The exact version/publication metadata of a versioned dependency, recorded separately from the host page's own update date where those differ.

Context: Not every source has a version number; for laws use legal status/amendment/consolidation information instead.

Common confusion: Collapsing a PDF version and Commission web-page update date into one ambiguous date.

Related: Primary source · CELEX

Primary/official source: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/digital-product-passport_en Canonical Knowledge owner: How ActivateDigital Determines DPP Regulatory Status and Uses Sources

System of record

Source family: Product data architecture

The one system that holds the authoritative value for a given fact, which every other system copies rather than edits.

Context: A fact with two systems of record has none.

Common confusion: Calling the system people look at the system of record.

Related: PIM · ERP · PLM

Canonical Knowledge owner: Which System Should Own Each Product Fact?

Traceability

Source family: GS1 standard

The ability to follow a product or its inputs through the stages of production, processing and distribution.

Context: Traceability is about following the object. Transparency is about publishing what you know.

Common confusion: Using traceability and transparency as the same word.

Related: EPCIS · Chain of custody

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/global-traceability/2.0.0/ Canonical Knowledge owner: What Do EPCIS Events Add to Product Master Data?

Unique Product Identifier

Also used as: UPI; product identifier Source family: ESPR / DPP standards

A unique identifier used to identify the product at the granularity required by the applicable DPP rules.

Context: Do not assume a specific identifier scheme without the applicable rule/standard.

Common confusion: Equating UPI automatically with GTIN in every regime.

Related: GTIN · Granularity · UOI

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Barcodes and Product Identifiers: What You Need

Unique Registration Identifier

Also used as: Registry URI; registration identifier Source family: Registry Implementing Regulation

An identifier communicated by the DPP Registry after required registration data is uploaded for a specific product registration.

Context: Do not confuse with the public web URL or product identifier.

Common confusion: URI can mean Uniform Resource Identifier in web standards, so context matters.

Related: DPP Registry · URI · Proof of registration

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1778/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: How to Register a DPP in the EU Registry, and What Happens After Submission

UOI

Also used as: Unique Operator Identifier Source family: ESPR / DPP standards

The identifier for the economic operator responsible for a product, recorded alongside the operator's name and address.

Common confusion: Confusing the operator identifier with the product identifier.

Related: Unique Product Identifier · Unique Registration Identifier · Economic operator

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj Canonical Knowledge owner: Who Needs a Digital Product Passport?

URI

Also used as: Uniform Resource Identifier Source family: Web standard

The web standard string that identifies a resource, which is also what a GS1 Digital Link produces.

Context: In DPP Registry material URI can also mean Unique Registration Identifier, so this term is never matched automatically.

Related: GS1 Digital Link · Unique Registration Identifier

Primary/official source: https://ref.gs1.org/standards/digital-link/uri-syntax/1.7.0/ Canonical Knowledge owner: GS1 Digital Link for Digital Product Passports: What It Is and Whether You Need It

WEEE

Also used as: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive Source family: EU law

The EU directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, with national registration and reporting duties for producers.

Context: WEEE registration is national, so the obligation sits in each member state.

Common confusion: Assuming an EU-level WEEE registration exists.

Related: EPR

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2012/19/oj

What would change this page

Also used as: review trigger; watch trigger Source family: ActivateDigital editorial governance

A named official event or source change that would require the page's current conclusion to be checked.

Context: Must be specific enough to monitor.

Common confusion: Vague "we are watching regulation" copy.

Related: Last verified · Primary source

Primary/official source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/content/help/my-eurlex/my-rss-feeds.html?locale=en Canonical Knowledge owner: How ActivateDigital Determines DPP Regulatory Status and Uses Sources

Why one glossary

The search and AI value comes from stable names, aliases and definitions resolving to one canonical owner. Splitting each term into a separate page would create thin content, duplicate stronger articles and make the entity graph harder to govern.

If a term becomes large enough to deserve substantive treatment, the existing canonical owner is where that depth belongs. The glossary entry should continue to act as the compact definition and routing node.

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