Tracker entry M63: CEN/CENELEC JTC 24 DPP standards (incl. EN 18220 data carriers) and ISO/IEC JTC 5
Standard
EU / International
- Region
- EU
- Sector
- Cross-sector
- Imposed by
- CEN/CENELEC JTC 24, ISO/IEC JTC 1
- Applies to
- Anyone implementing a DPP
- Technology
- Carrier choice
What the rule requires
EN 18220 sets the rules for DPP data carriers and covers optical 2D codes, RFID tags and NFC chips, so RAIN RFID and NFC are recognised options. Each product's delegated act still decides which carrier is required. Because it is cited as a harmonised standard, following it gives a presumption of conformity with the ESPR carrier requirements.
Status: Six EN standards published 2026 and cited as harmonised under ESPR on 15 Jul 2026; two more followed later; global work under way in ISO/IEC JTC 5
What it means for RFID
EN 18220 is the standard that fixes how a digital product passport (DPP) data carrier works, across optical 2D codes, RFID tags and NFC chips. RFID News reported in October 2026 that it covers symbology, format, error correction, encoding methods, print and production quality, and durability. Tag and inlay makers, label converters and anyone implementing a DPP would use it to show their carrier meets the ESPR requirements.
Being in the standard is permission, not an order: each product's delegated act still decides which carrier is required. AIM Global and AIM Europe wrote to the JTC 24 secretariat on 5 September 2025 arguing that rewritable RFID and NFC carriers need mandatory write protection.
Global work continues in ISO/IEC JTC 5, where the RAIN Alliance announced liaison status on 28 October 2026. RFID News reported that first results from JTC 5 are expected from 2028.
Timeline
- ISO/IEC JTC 5 (Digital Product Passport) announced, DIN secretariat
- EN 18216, 18219, 18220, 18221, 18222 and 18223 published by CEN/CENELEC
- Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1736 lists the six as harmonised standards under ESPR (published in the Official Journal 15 Jul 2026)
- RAIN Alliance announces liaison status with ISO/IEC JTC 5
Our coverage
Sources
Official source: EUR-Lex
Last checked against the official source on 29 October 2026.
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