News and changes
New implementing acts, guidelines and positions of supervisory authorities — and what they mean in practice.
Will supervision of the digital product passport change this year already?
The regulation is in place, but in the Netherlands it is not yet clear everywhere who will be in charge of concrete oversight. This article sets out what is already fixed this year and what still needs to follow.
Read more →The most common mistake when recording the digital product passport in steel purchasing contracts
Many companies incorporate the digital product passport too late or too vaguely in their steel purchasing contracts. This article shows what usually goes wrong and how to prevent it.
Read more →What documents do I need if I process steel into a new product?
An overview of the documents that form part of a digital product passport when you process raw steel into a different product, and why the extent of processing determines how long that list becomes.
Read more →How long does the consultation process regarding the digital product passport take?
There is no fixed timeline for the consultation process: the duration depends on the procedure your works council follows and on when you involve it. This article shows where the timeline usually gets held up.
Read more →What does it cost to prepare your staff for the digital product passport?
There is no fixed fee for preparing employees for the digital product passport: the costs depend on who is involved and how much is already in order. This article shows where the amount comes from.
Read more →Does co-determination apply to the digital product passport for your company?
Co-determination is a Dutch arrangement that is separate from the European regulation for the digital product passport. Whether your works council or employee representation plays a role depends on how you organize the implementation within your company.
Read more →What is the difference between the digital product passport and the CE marking of steel?
CE marking and the digital product passport are two separate obligations that exist side by side: one is about safety, the other about information through the supply chain. This article explains the difference and the relationship between them.
Read more →What happens if I don't prepare my staff for the digital product passport?
Without preparing your people for the digital product passport, its implementation will face delays and work will accumulate with a few individuals. This article outlines the practical consequences, separate from what the regulation itself does or does not require.
Read more →Does the conversation with your software supplier change if you supply to multiple EU countries?
What applies the same way throughout the EU for the digital product passport, and where you discuss separately with your software supplier if you also supply outside the Netherlands.
Read more →Can I compile the digital product passport for steel myself?
An overview of what you as a manufacturer, importer or distributor can fill in yourself for the digital product passport, and which part usually goes to a specialized party.
Read more →What changes in your conversation with your software supplier this year?
The regulation itself is not changing this year, but your conversation with your ERP or software supplier is: from orientation to concrete questions about fields, integrations and planning.
Read more →The most common mistake when combining the digital product passport with existing product documentation
Many companies set up data collection for the digital product passport as a separate project, while existing certificates and files already largely form the basis. This costs time and increases the risk of conflicting data.
Read more →Which documents do I need as a steel manufacturer for the digital product passport?
An overview of the documents that a steel manufacturer already has in house or must collect for the digital product passport, with particular attention to the material certificate.
Read more →How long does it take to select a software provider for the digital product passport?
From initial exploration to a signed contract typically takes eight to fifteen weeks, but internal decision-making and integration with existing systems determine the actual pace.
Read more →What does it cost to collect the data for your digital product passport?
The cost of the digital product passport is not in the passport itself, but in collecting the underlying data. This determines how much time and money that takes.
Read more →Do I need to speak to my software supplier about the digital product passport now?
When the conversation with your software supplier about the digital product passport for iron and steel becomes urgent, and when you can still afford to wait with investing.
Read more →What is my role in the iron and steel chain under the digital product passport?
Manufacturer, importer, authorised representative or distributor: the regulation assigns each role different tasks regarding the digital product passport. This article explains how you determine which role applies to your company.
Read more →What happens if my supplier does not provide data for the digital product passport?
If a supplier does not provide the required data, the passport cannot be completed — with consequences for your own obligations in the chain. This article describes those consequences plainly and what you can do about it now.
Read more →Does the digital product passport need to be in a different language when you supply abroad?
The regulation itself says little about language, but existing language rules per Member State and the way a country supervises can differ once you ship steel across borders.
Read more →Can I host the digital product passport for steel myself?
Self-hosting the digital product passport is technically possible, but the regulation sets requirements for duration, accessibility and reliability that are not automatically arranged. This article shows where self-hosting practically reaches its limits.
Read more →What is changing in your business practices this year already?
The obligation for a digital product passport for steel does not yet exist, but in 2026 enough will shift for you to start looking at your own data and processes now.
Read more →The most common mistake when choosing a software supplier for the digital product passport
Many companies think that a software supplier takes on the responsibility for the digital product passport. That is not the case — and this insight often comes too late.
Read more →What documents do I need as a steel distributor for the digital product passport?
A steel distributor does not compile a product passport itself, but does need documents to demonstrate that the product has one and where it comes from. This article explains which documents these are and why keeping records is just as important as collecting them.
Read more →How long does it take to compile the data for your digital product passport?
The time it takes to compile all data for the steel product passport depends mainly on your suppliers and the length of your chain — not on a statutory deadline.
Read more →What does it cost to host a digital product passport for ten years?
An overview of what determines the price of ten years of hosting for a digital product passport, and which factors influence the costs for your company.
Read more →Does the digital product passport also apply to steel that is already in stock?
Many companies with steel in their warehouse are wondering whether everything will need a passport in the future. This article explains which moment matters and what is not yet established.
Read more →What do I need to know about the CO2 footprint of steel in the digital product passport?
The CO2 footprint is one of the data that will be included in the digital product passport for steel, but the calculation method for it has not yet been established.
Read more →What are the consequences if I fail to arrange a QR code for my steel product?
An overview of what may happen if the QR code of the digital product passport is missing from a steel or iron semi-finished product, and what is not yet determined about this.
Read more →Which supervisory authority checks the digital product passport in another EU country?
The ESPR Regulation applies uniformly throughout the EU, but which authority checks the digital product passport is regulated differently in each country. This means that for companies that sell or purchase steel across borders.
Read more →Can I generate the QR code for the digital product passport myself?
Generating a QR code yourself is straightforward, but the data behind it must meet requirements that will be established per product group. This article shows where doing it yourself ends and outsourcing begins.
Read more →Does the digital product passport change your GDPR obligations?
The digital product passport for steel and the GDPR are two separate regulations that will continue to exist alongside each other. This article explains what will and will not change this year, and for whom this will matter.
Read more →The most common mistake in keeping the digital product passport up to date
Many companies see the digital product passport as something you create once. The most common mistake is that the passport is not updated afterwards, even though the product or the chain changes.
Read more →What documents do I need if I import steel from outside the EU?
For those importing steel from outside the EU, there is a technical file in addition to the usual trade documents that must be traceable to the manufacturer — and that is precisely where things often go wrong.
Read more →How long does it take before the digital product passport for steel becomes mandatory?
The requirement for the digital product passport for steel does not come all at once. This article explains which timelines are in the ESPR work plan and where companies in practice lose time.
Read more →What does it cost to adapt your contracts to the digital product passport for steel?
It is not the passport itself, but the contracts around it that often determine the bill. This article shows where that amount comes from and what affects the costs in practice.
Read more →Does the digital product passport also apply to my company if I only process steel?
Metal processors and construction companies often wonder whether sawing, cutting or welding steel makes them a new obligated party. This article explains where that line is drawn and what remains uncertain.
Read more →What is the unique identification code of a digital product passport?
Each digital product passport receives its own identification code that links the product to its file. This article explains what that code does, who assigns it, and what remains to be determined.
Read more →What happens if I don't arrange a digital product passport for steel?
What the regulation itself says about non-compliance, who may have to deal with it, and why the exact consequences are not yet established.
Read more →Does the digital product passport for steel differ per EU country?
The regulation itself applies literally in the same way in all EU countries, but who supervises it and how that supervision works differs per member state.
Read more →Can I arrange the digital product passport for steel myself?
Compiling a digital product passport for steel yourself can be done technically, but storing it over ten years, using the correct format and bearing the associated responsibility require more than a one-off action.
Read more →What changes in 2026 regarding the digital product passport for steel?
An overview of the next step in the ESPR planning: the delegated act for iron and steel expected in 2026, and what that means for those already working with steel.
Read more →The most common mistake when purchasing steel with a view to the product passport
Many companies think the digital product passport is something for later, and leave procurement data on origin and composition unrecorded now. That choice is difficult to remedy afterwards.
Read more →What documents do I need for the digital product passport for steel?
An overview of the documents typically required to compile a digital product passport for iron and steel, and why the material certificate is pivotal in this process.
Read more →How long does it take before a digital product passport for steel is ready?
The lead time of a product passport involves two clocks: when the obligation comes into force, and how much time a company needs to actually get the data complete. The latter more often runs into problems in the supply chain than in the technology.
Read more →What does a digital product passport for steel cost?
There is no fixed rate for the digital product passport: the price depends on the number of products, the state of your data and the complexity of the supply chain. This article shows what makes up an amount.
Read more →Does the digital product passport for iron and steel apply to my company?
An overview of the factors that determine whether your company will be subject to the digital product passport for iron and steel, and when that is not yet the case.
Read more →Who is the 'manufacturer or importer' of the digital product passport for steel?
The regulation places the obligation to compile the passport with the 'economic operator' — typically the manufacturer or importer, not the party that merely resells the steel. This article explains how that role is determined and what it means for those who purchase or process steel.
Read more →The Ferropas platform follows ongoing developments in the regulation of product passports for iron and steel. These changes have direct consequences for producers, traders and distributors in the steel sector.
European legislation on digital product passports is evolving rapidly. This means that companies must continuously adapt to new requirements and guidelines. Ferropas helps you by regularly publishing updates on what is changing and how you can implement this in practice.
An important aspect is that many companies are now using AI tools to manage and supply their product data. This makes processes faster and more efficient, but also raises new questions. How do you ensure that AI-generated data complies with regulations? How do you maintain the quality and accuracy of information?
On this news page you will find messages about upcoming changes in regulations, new requirements for data management and practical guidance for compliance. We also highlight how AI and automation can help companies comply with regulations more efficiently.
By staying informed of developments, your company stays ahead of changes. Ferropas provides you with the information you need to be ready for what is coming.