BASA, the Adhesives & Sealants Association for the UK and Ireland, supports the ambition behind Digital Product Passports (DPPs) as a way to improve transparency, sustainability and communication across supply chains. However, BASA is increasingly concerned that current policy development in both the EU and UK risks making DPPs fragmented, burdensome and less effective than intended.
At present, DPPs are being developed through several legislative routes, including horizontal and sector-specific frameworks. For businesses operating across sectors and markets, this raises the prospect of duplicated systems, inconsistent data requirements and unnecessary administrative burden. BASA believes that core architecture, governance principles and data standards should be aligned as far as possible to support interoperability and avoid non-tariff barriers to trade.
BASA also stresses that DPPs should remain a tool for value chain communication rather than becoming a primary enforcement mechanism. If passports are expected to serve multiple regulatory purposes, there is a risk of legal uncertainty, over-reporting and reduced willingness to share useful information. In BASA’s view, regulators should request additional information directly where necessary, rather than relying on DPPs as enforcement databases.
Another key concern is proportionality. Data requirements must be limited to what is necessary, relevant and technically feasible, particularly for SMEs. BASA also warns against any system in which market access depends on real-time registration or the uninterrupted availability of digital infrastructure. Without robust contingency planning, outages or cyber incidents could disrupt supply chains and prevent compliant products from reaching the market.
BASA is therefore calling on policymakers to adopt a practical, harmonised and resilient approach to DPPs: one that supports innovation and competitiveness while remaining workable for industry. The association stands ready to work with UK and EU regulators to help ensure DPPs are fit for purpose and deliver genuine value across the supply chain.
Read the full BASA article on the BASA website for the complete position and recommendations. https://members.basa.uk.com/news/Details/digital-product-passports-basa-calls-for-a-practical-harmonised-approach-343893
