Bangladesh must start preparing now for EU’s Digital Product Passport rules: Experts

Experts have called on Bangladeshi exporters to begin preparing immediately for the European Union's (EU) new sustainability requirements, which will make Digital Product Passports (DPPs) mandatory for nearly all products sold in the bloc.

They said the measure will improve transparency and traceability across supply chains, while helping businesses maintain competitiveness in the global market.

The call was made today (11 August) at a seminar "EU Trade Forum: Spotlight on the Digital Product Passport", organised jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and German development agency GIZ at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka.

The DPP initiative, part of the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), is aimed at providing comprehensive digital records of products, covering their origin, materials, environmental footprint and disposal instructions. 

It will also include a unique product identifier, compliance documents, and information on substances of concern, alongside user manuals and safety guidelines.

By detailing a product's full lifecycle, the DPP is expected to improve supply chain management, ensure regulatory compliance, and help companies detect and mitigate risks linked to product authenticity and environmental impact.

The event, aiming to create a shared understanding of the DPP, briefed participants about the EU's ESPR and also assessed Bangladesh's preparedness to align its export sectors with the regulations.

German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz, attending as special guest, said, "The DPP is an important tool that will help ensure traceability and transparency of products."

Export Promotion Bureau Vice-Chairman Md Anwar Hossain said, "We want to develop a data ecosystem owned by the government, from which exporters, factory owners and other private sector stakeholders can benefit."

Commerce Secretary Md Mahbubur Rahman, in his chief guest's address, said, "It is important to ensure that implementing provisions like the DPP does not significantly raise costs."

The first panel discussion, "From Regulation to Readiness", examined Bangladesh's preparedness for the EU's upcoming traceability requirements, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Bida, BGMEA, BKMEA and the EPB.

The second panel, "Implementation Insights and Challenges", highlighted field-level experiences from Reverse Resources, Urmi Group, Data Develop Consulting, DigiProd Pass, Sera Bangladesh, and the Ministry of Commerce's Planning Wing.

In the technical session, participants were briefed on the structure of the DPP under the ESPR, international practices, and case studies such as the Digital Battery Passport. The concluding technology exhibition showcased digital traceability solutions from DigiProd Pass, GarmentTech, Reverse Resources, Proknowara and LeatherTrace.

Organisers said the seminar served as a vital platform for policymakers, industry leaders and technology innovators, aiming to prepare Bangladesh's export sector to meet the EU's future sustainability standards and remain competitive in international markets.