A digital product passport (DPP) is a digital record for one specific product, opened by scanning a code or tapping a chip on it. The EU is making passports mandatory one product category at a time. As of late September 2026, no EU date had been set for watches or for handbags specifically.
Key takeaways
- A DPP holds a product's record: origin, materials, warranty, service and, on some systems, ownership.
- The EU framework is law, but each category needs its own follow-up rules before passports become mandatory.
- A passport proves the record is genuine. Whether it belongs to the item in your hand depends on how it's attached.
What is a digital product passport?
It's a product's digital identity. Each item has its own record, reached through a data carrier on the product, usually a QR code or an NFC chip. Luxury buyers expect them most on high-value pieces: a Vogue Business survey found interest of around 80% for bags, watches and jewellery.
Several watch houses already issue them. Panerai has given every watch a digital passport since October 2023, including ownership transfer and warranty extension.
Is a digital product passport mandatory for watches?
Not yet. The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) sets up the passport framework, but a product category only comes into scope through its own delegated act. Watches aren't among the priority product groups in the European Commission's 2025-2030 working plan, and no watch-specific date had been published as of late September 2026. That means not scheduled, not permanently exempt.
When will handbags need a digital product passport?
No handbag-specific date has been set. Textiles and apparel are an early EU priority, with the rules targeted for adoption in 2027 and the compliance date set by those rules. It isn't confirmed whether, or when, leather handbags will be covered. Treat any fixed handbag date you see with caution.
What else has the EU already done?
- Central DPP registry: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1778, adopted in July 2026, sets up the registry that links passports across the market. It's infrastructure. It doesn't bring new product categories into scope.
- Unsold clothes and shoes: rules under ESPR banning the destruction of unsold apparel and footwear started applying to large companies from 19 July 2026.
Does a digital product passport prove an item is genuine?
Not on its own. A passport proves its record is genuine. Whether the physical item is the one the record belongs to depends on the data carrier. A printed code can be copied onto a fake. A chip that can be cut out can be moved. See NFC vs QR code authentication.
Where Shado fits
Shado isn't a compliance product and doesn't claim to make any item DPP-compliant. It answers the question a passport alone can't: is this record attached to this piece? A Shado module is built into the watch clasp or bag hardware at manufacture and verified with a tap of the Shado app. If it's separated from the piece, that's recorded and shows at every tap.
Frequently asked questions
Does a passport transfer when I sell?
It depends on the brand's system. Some support ownership transfer and some don't. Ask before you buy.
Can a buyer see who owned the item before?
It depends on the system. A Shado tap shows authenticity and status, never the owner's identity.
Is a DPP the same as a blockchain certificate or NFT?
Not necessarily. Some passport platforms use blockchain; the EU framework doesn't require it.
Sources
Next step: see how Shado works. Brands: talk to us.