European Commission plans free online access to referenced standards
The European Commission intends to make referenced standards available online free of charge and without access restrictions in the future. The proposal could facilitate access to the technical foundations for DPP implementation, but it has not yet been adopted and currently does not change any binding DPP requirements.
On 6 October 2026, the European Commission presented a proposal for a new European standardisation regulation with COM(2026) 780. The proposal concerns the European standardisation system as a whole, and therefore also includes formal standards relevant to the Digital Product Passport (DPP). It is intended to replace Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 and accelerate and digitalise standardisation processes while making them more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises.
What is planned for access to standards
Article 5 of the proposal requires European standardisation organisations and, where applicable, other designated standardisation organisations to provide unrestricted, free online access to referenced standards and standardisation documents. This would also cover amendments, corrections and referenced revisions in the respective authentic language versions.
The documents are to be accessible in a readable, searchable, printable and electronically accessible format. Public access is also to remain available permanently, even if the respective reference is later withdrawn from the Official Journal of the European Union.
Significance for the Digital Product Passport
Referenced standards specify technical requirements under EU product legislation and may therefore also be relevant to implementing the Digital Product Passport. Free, searchable access would make it easier for companies and technical editorial teams to review and integrate such requirements. However, the proposal does not directly change the information requirements of individual product passports.
Regulatory status
COM(2026) 780 is a legislative proposal under the ordinary legislative procedure. The provisions on free online access therefore do not yet apply. Binding obligations could arise from them only after adoption by the European Parliament and the Council.