ITSA Raises Concern Over Weakened DPP Provisions

This summer, the draft versions of several European standards for digital product passports (DPPs) were published for public review and enquiry. One of these drafts – prEN 18246:2025 – covers the authentication, reliability and integrity of DPP data, with the aim of minimising product fraud and counterfeiting.

However, for a standard that should be intent on ensuring the authenticity of both physical products and the digital data associated with those products, the latest version of the standard (published in August) has been weakened by the removal of references to physical authentication elements, claims the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA).

2D barcodes not enough

The DPP is a digital record that gathers essential information about a physical product throughout its lifecycle – from manufacturing and distribution to final use and end-of-life recycling. This includes data on origin, raw materials, environmental impact, and recycling options.

The DPP is associated with each product via a unique product identifier that is, where possible, physically attached to the product via a machine- readable data carrier such as a 2D barcode.