On March 27, 2026, the inaugural meeting of the National Standardization Working Group for Product Digital Passports (SAC/SWG 41) was held in Beijing. This marks the establishment of China’s first national-level standardization technical body dedicated to the field of Digital Product Passports (DPPs), signaling that standardization in this area has officially entered a phase of systematic, coordinated development.

The meeting was attended by representatives from a wide range of sectors, including government regulators, research institutions, industry associations, and leading enterprises. The Department of Standardization Technology Management of the State Administration for Market Regulation and GS1 China were among the key attendees, along with all members of the working group. The composition of the working group spans key industries such as batteries, textiles, and consumer electronics, reflecting a collaborative model that brings together government, industry, academia, research, and application.

A Digital Product Passport is an electronic record that shares product-related information—covering manufacturing, certification, distribution, and recycling—across supply chain participants, regulators, and consumers. It facilitates rapid market access and real‑time traceability throughout the product lifecycle, and is widely regarded as a critical tool for promoting industrial green transformation and sustainable development. The European Union has already mandated digital passports for products such as batteries and textiles under legislation including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation [(EU) 2024/1781, known as “the ESPR”] and the Batteries Regulation [(EU) 2023/1542)], creating direct compliance pressures on Chinese exporters. In response to this global trend, China has proactively taken action. The establishment of the working group represents a strategic move to systematically address these challenges through standardization.

Key facts about the National Standardization Working Group for Product Digital Passports include:

ž   Secretariat: The secretariat of the working group is hosted at the China Article Numbering Center (GS1 China).

ž   Membership: The first‑term working group consists of 43 members drawn from government agencies, research institutes, universities, and leading companies across sectors including market regulation, commerce, customs, information and communications, textiles, batteries, and automobiles.

The SWG is responsible for standardization in the areas of DPP foundational frameworks, identification and carrier technologies, and interoperability. Its core tasks include:

ž   Developing and refining China‘s national standard system for DPPs.

ž   Prioritizing the creation of foundational general standards and key technical standards.

ž   Advancing application‑specific standards for key industries such as batteries, textiles, and consumer electronics.

ž   Actively promoting alignment and compatibility between Chinese national standards and international standards (including those from the EU).

Foreign stakeholders are advised to note that the SWG will move quickly to initiate the planning of the DPP standard system and the launch of key standards projects. It will focus on developing foundational standards covering system architecture, identification and carrier technologies, and interoperability, while accelerating the creation of application‑specific standards for priority sectors such as batteries and textiles. These efforts are designed to support the efficient circulation of DPPs within China and their international recognition.