The household appliance sector welcomes the digitalisation of product information, seeing it as a natural evolution from paper documentation and an important foundation for the development of the European digital economy. However, companies in the sector are calling for greater caution in the implementation of the DPP (Digital Product Passport), as currently proposed by the European Commission.
In a policy paper dated 18 June 2026, the sector highlights how a broad and mandatory DPP model risks generating a significant regulatory burden in an industry already under strong competitive pressure, despite also being an important economic pillar for the European Union, with around one million jobs.
The sector’s position is clear: the digital transition must be fair, pragmatic, and based on a “start small” principle, with a rigorous assessment of the real added value of each new regulatory requirement.
The goal, it stresses, is to avoid regulatory overlaps, reduce compliance burdens, and at the same time ensure legal certainty for companies, while protecting trade secrets and sensitive technical information.
In this context, the importance of leveraging existing infrastructures is highlighted, such as the European energy labelling system, the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL), considered a functioning and EU-recognised starting point.
A single QR code to simplify information
Among the main proposals is the introduction of a single European QR code covering all information requirements set out in legislation. According to the sector, such an approach would ensure greater simplicity, usability, and consistency in the application of rules across the European Union.
The idea is to avoid manufacturers having to manage multiple parallel systems for accessing data, especially in cases where a product is already subject to QR code requirements for energy labelling or other regulated information.
Another key point concerns the management of sensitive data. Companies in the sector are calling for strict protection of trade secrets, with technical data access limited, justified, and properly secured. The most critical information, they emphasise, should only be available upon request and not made automatically accessible.
Finally, the sector urges European institutions to more clearly define the regulatory scope, governance model, data access modalities, and technical architecture of the system before introducing new binding obligations.
The implementation of the Digital Product Passport, according to this view, should follow a gradual approach, with pilot phases and a realistic transition period, ensuring regulatory stability and sustainability for the companies involved.
The industrial and supply chain ecosystem of household appliances and consumer electronics will meet at the next edition of Applitech, the only European trade fair in the sector, taking place from 10 to 12 November 2027 at BolognaFiere, featuring a rich programme of conferences.