Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2 establishes a standardized format for disclosing information on discarded unsold consumer products under ESPR. Large enterprises must report the number, weight, and reasons for discarding products categorized by Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes, the proportion delivered to waste treatment operations, and measures taken to prevent destruction. A 5-year record-keeping requirement applies. Applies from March 2, 2027 for large enterprises; medium-sized enterprises from July 19, 2030; micro and small enterprises are exempt.
On 9 Feb 2026, the European Commission adopted a Commission Implementing Regulation (C(2026) 660 final) laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) as regards the details and common format for the mandatory annual disclosure of information on discarded unsold consumer products (ESPR Article 24). The implementing act standardises how companies must report (including product category delineation using Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes and the required disclosure tables/templates in annexes) and includes documentation/recordkeeping and verification principles for competent authorities (risk-based approach described in annexes). Compliance teams should align internal data collection, classification (CN coding), and evidence retention processes to the required format to ensure future disclosures are complete and auditable.
On 9 Feb 2026, the European Commission adopted a Commission Delegated Regulation (C(2026) 659 final) supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) by specifying derogations (exceptions) to the ESPR Article 25 prohibition on destruction of unsold consumer products for the Annex VII categories (apparel/clothing accessories/footwear). The delegated act operationalises when destruction may be permitted and the conditions/evidence expectations relevant for competent-authority verification (per the act and explanatory memorandum). Compliance teams in relevant sectors should map current returns/unsold goods handling workflows to the derogation conditions, implement decision controls and evidence retention, and update internal policies ahead of the ESPR ban’s application to large companies referenced in Commission materials.
Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 659 final establishes specific derogations from the ESPR prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear. Permitted derogations include: health/hygiene/safety reasons; damage that cannot be cost-effectively repaired; unfitness for intended purpose; non-acceptance of products offered for donation; unsuitability for preparing for reuse or remanufacturing; unsaleability due to intellectual property rights infringement; and destruction being the option with least negative environmental impacts. Destruction ban takes effect 19 July 2026 for large enterprises and 19 July 2030 for medium-sized enterprises.
The European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation C(2026) 660 final under the ESPR, establishing standardized rules for disclosing information on discarded unsold consumer products. The regulation requires disclosure of Combined Nomenclature codes, quantities and weights of discarded units, reasons for discarding, and proportions prepared for reuse, recycling, recovery, or disposal. Large companies must comply with the standardized format from February 2027; medium-sized companies from 2030.
The European Commission adopted Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 659 final establishing six specific derogations from the prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear under ESPR. Companies may destroy unsold products only under defined circumstances: health/hygiene/safety reasons, irreparable damage during handling or detected after return, non-acceptance of products offered for donation, unsuitability for preparing for reuse or remanufacturing, unsaleability due to intellectual property rights infringement, or when destruction represents the option with least negative environmental impacts. Documentation requirements apply. The regulation takes effect alongside the destruction ban on July 19, 2026 for large enterprises and extends to medium enterprises from July 19, 2030.
Under ESPR Article 20, the prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear takes effect on July 19, 2026 for large enterprises. Medium-sized enterprises must comply from July 19, 2030. The ban covers products under CN codes 4203, 61, 62, 6504, 6505 (apparel and clothing accessories) and 6401, 6402, 6403, 6404, 6405 (footwear). Companies must implement alternative practices such as resale, donation to social economy entities, reuse, repair, refurbishment, or recycling instead of destruction. The February 2026 delegated regulation defines specific derogations under which destruction may still be permitted.
The European Commission (DG GROW) published a draft standardisation request (standardisation mandate) addressed to CEN to revise/draft harmonised standards for precast concrete products under the Construction Products Regulation framework. The draft explicitly links environmental sustainability essential characteristics to lifecycle assessment and Product Category Rules (PCRs) and references EN 15804:2012+A2:2019+AC:2021 as the methodological basis for environmental declarations in this context. The document includes a feedback deadline (3 March 2026) and indicates intended target dates (e.g., annex tables referencing 30 Oct 2026) for delivery/adoption of standards. For EPD/EN 15804 compliance teams (especially construction product manufacturers), this is an early but actionable signal that future harmonised product standards may embed EN 15804-aligned environmental declaration mechanics (via PCRs and required indicators) into EU product documentation (e.g., DoP/DoPC workflows) once finalized and implemented.
The European Commission (DG GROW) issued a notification under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 containing a draft standardisation request (draft Commission Implementing Decision text) to CEN for precast concrete products. The draft explicitly calls for harmonised standards to enumerate essential characteristics related to environmental sustainability and to establish product category rules enabling whole life-cycle analysis and performance declaration, referencing EN 15804:2012+A2:2019+AC:2021 and horizontal standards under Mandate M/350. For EPD/EN 15804 compliance planning, this indicates the direction of future harmonised standards that will embed EN 15804-style EPD methods/data into CPR compliance for the precast concrete product family. Monitor this draft through its adoption and subsequent CEN standard development, as it can drive future mandatory environmental declaration content for affected construction products.
The European Commission published the First CPR Working Plan for 2026–2029 (COM(2025) 772 final). The Working Plan is an implementation roadmap under the revised Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3110) describing how harmonised technical specifications will be developed/updated and made mandatory via implementing acts. For EPD/ISO 14025/EN 15804 stakeholders, this is a key compliance-planning signal because it frames how ‘environmental sustainability characteristics’ will be integrated into construction-product documentation and declarations through the CPR acquis process and related standardisation work, which is expected to rely on EN 15804-based methods for environmental performance declaration. Compliance teams should use this to anticipate timing and prioritisation of product-family standard updates that will drive when EPD-derived data becomes required within CPR declarations for specific construction product categories.
DESNZ opened a consultation on a proposed technical amendment to UK ecodesign regulations to ensure Great Britain’s CE-recognition framework continues to apply to products regulated under future EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) measures. The consultation explains that without updating references from the older EU Ecodesign Directive framework, CE recognition in GB may not automatically cover products meeting new ESPR-based EU requirements, potentially forcing additional UK-specific conformity steps. This is a proposed change; compliance teams in scope of ecodesign should consider responding and track the resulting statutory instrument, as it affects whether CE-marked ecodesign products remain accepted in GB.
The European Commission adopted the first ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025-2030 (COM(2025) 187 final), establishing priority product groups for delegated acts development under the ESPR framework. Iron and steel products are prioritized for 2026, aluminium and textiles (garments and footwear) for 2027, with furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants, chemicals, and ICT products to follow. The plan also carries forward 19 energy-related products from the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC for adoption by December 31, 2026. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028. The Working Plan sets indicative timelines for when specific product sectors can expect binding ecodesign requirements.
On 16 Apr 2025, the European Commission adopted the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030 (COM(2025) 187 final). This is a key ESPR implementation milestone that sets the Commission’s priority product groups and indicative timelines for preparing future delegated acts (which will contain binding ecodesign requirements) as well as horizontal measures (e.g., repairability). Compliance teams can use the Working Plan to prioritize product readiness efforts (data, design, supply chain information) for product groups expected to be regulated earlier and to anticipate upcoming consultations and delegated-act development cycles.
The European Commission adopted the first Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan (2025-2030) establishing priority product groups for ecodesign requirements under ESPR. Key priorities include textiles/apparel/footwear (delegated act expected 2026-2027), iron and steel (2026), aluminum (2027), furniture including mattresses (2027-2028), tyres (2027-2028), and ICT products. The plan includes a mid-term review scheduled for 2028.
EUR-Lex publication of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, the core legal act establishing the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) framework. This is the binding baseline for subsequent delegated/implementing acts (e.g., product-group ecodesign requirements, Digital Product Passport rules, and rules on destruction/disclosure for unsold consumer products). Compliance teams should use this as the authoritative legal anchor when mapping ESPR obligations and tracking future implementing measures.
Canada published SOR/2024-109 amending the Products Containing Mercury Regulations under CEPA. Per the research text, the amendments come into force on the first anniversary of publication in Canada Gazette Part II (publication 2024-06-19; in force 2025-06-19). The amendments update the prohibitions/exemptions framework and introduce/clarify compliance mechanics, including: (1) revised reporting cadence and deadlines—calendar year 2025 report due 2026-03-31; calendar year 2027 report due 2028-03-31; then every third year; (2) new/explicit export quantity reporting elements; (3) labeling updates (including identifying mercury-containing components and allowing certain information via website reference under conditions); and (4) obligations for products manufactured/imported in contravention to be directed to authorized final disposal/recycling (or returned to sender for imports). Compliance teams should update product eligibility assessments, labeling/artwork, recordkeeping, and reporting workflows to meet the amended requirements and cadence.