Tracker entry M02: ESPR product rules: iron and steel
Planned
EU
Next date
Commission's planned adoption of the iron and steel delegated act (Q4 2026)
- Region
- EU
- Sector
- Industrial materials
- Imposed by
- European Commission
- Applies to
- Steel and iron producers and importers
- Technology
- ID required, technology open
What the rule requires
The first product act under the Ecodesign Regulation. It will decide whether steel needs a digital product passport and which data carrier is accepted. Most acts then allow about 18 months before they apply.
Status: Consultation closed 12 Aug 2026; draft act not yet out for feedback; adoption planned Q4 2026
What it means for RFID
The iron and steel act matters to RFID and NFC suppliers because it will decide whether steel needs a digital product passport (DPP) and which data carrier is accepted. The sources do not name a carrier technology, so whether RFID, NFC or a printed code will qualify is not yet known.
The obligation would fall on steel and iron producers and importers. The call for evidence and public consultation closed on 12 August 2026, and the draft act has not yet been published for feedback.
The date to watch is the Commission's planned adoption in the fourth quarter of 2026. Because most acts then allow about 18 months before they apply, carrier suppliers would have that window once the text is fixed.
Timeline
- Commission adopts the ESPR working plan
- Call for evidence and public consultation on the iron and steel delegated act open
- Call for evidence and public consultation close
- Commission's planned adoption of the iron and steel delegated act (Q4 2026)
Sources
Official source: European Commission
Last checked against the official source on 1 November 2026.
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