EU Battery Regulation Digital Battery Passport Specifications and QR Code Traceability Practice
ENFORCEMENT TIMELINE
In force since August 17, 2023 (individual battery passports mandatory from February 18, 2027)
Overview
This card focuses on the data structure, access rights management, and QR code/data carrier-based supply chain traceability practice for the 'Digital Battery Passport' under Articles 77–78 and Annex XIII of the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542).
From February 2027, all LMT batteries, industrial batteries, and electric vehicle (EV) batteries with a capacity above 2 kWh placed on the EU market will be legally required to have an electronic 'Battery Passport' issued and linked to a unique identifier. The passport records manufacturer information, chemical composition (cobalt, lithium, nickel, and recycled content shares), carbon footprint, supply chain due diligence verification results, and real-time SoH data, and is built on digital infrastructure that provides immediate access via a QR code engraved on the battery casing.
Enforcement Timeline
August 17, 2023: The basic rules for the battery passport system are established.
By December 31, 2024: The European Commission adopts delegated acts on the common data model and digital access standard for the battery passport.
February 18, 2027: Battery passports and QR code display become fully mandatory for LMT, industrial, and EV batteries above 2 kWh capacity.
August 18, 2028: Supply chain due diligence information (human rights and environmental risk verification reports) is fully integrated into the passport.
Related Regulations / Topics
EU Battery Regulation — Removability and Replaceability Requirement for Portable and LMT Batteries (2027)
Under Article 11 of the EU Battery Regulation, portable batteries and batteries for light means of transport (LMT), such as those used in e-bikes and e-scooters, embedded in electronic devices must be designed so that end users or independent repairers can easily remove and replace them throughout the product's lifetime, without needing specialized tools or applying heat.
EU Battery Regulation — Battery Supply Chain Due Diligence Obligations
Under Chapter VII of the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542), economic operators placing batteries on the EU market with an annual net turnover exceeding €40 million are required to establish, operate, and obtain third-party verification of a human rights and environmental due diligence policy covering the sourcing of key raw materials and chemical compounds such as cobalt, natural graphite, lithium, and nickel.
Business Impact
Battery manufacturers and EV automakers need to build an enterprise passport platform that digitally integrates data across the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction (lithium, cobalt, and others) through intermediate component synthesis, pack assembly, distribution, and reuse or disposal. Data within the passport must be strictly managed under a three-tier role-based access control model: publicly available information (such as basic specifications and recycling methods), information restricted to regulators and verification bodies (such as due diligence verification reports and test details), and information restricted to refurbishment and recycling operators (such as dismantling manuals and pin layouts).
The QR code printed or engraved directly onto the battery itself must also be durable enough to withstand harsh operating environments and aging. Ensuring compatibility with data formats (such as Web3/decentralized identifiers or GS1 standards) and seamlessly linking a company's core enterprise systems (ERP) with the EU's central data registration system (the EU Battery Passport System) is the most critical digital governance challenge for compliance.