The regulation does not set a fixed deadline for linking the digital product passport to your own systems — this is different from the date when the obligation itself comes into force. The duration of the link itself depends on where you are starting from: do you already have a central system with product data, or is everything still scattered across Excel files and emails from suppliers. Companies that have already gone through that process typically report a period of a few weeks to a couple of months, with the caveat that this is experience from practice and not a timeline prescribed by the regulation.
The reason there is such a range between 'a few weeks' and 'a couple of months' is that the link is rarely the longest part. The technology — generating a QR code and linking it to a product page — is usually sorted out quickly. What takes time is everything that has to happen beforehand: which data you need, who provides it, and which system it is already in or still needs to be entered into.
What 'linking' means in practice
By linking we mean the moment when the data needed for the passport actually comes from your own administration rather than standing alone. This can be a simple export function from your webshop or PIM system, or a more manual process where data is entered per article. Both can work; the difference is in how often you need to update the passport and how many articles you carry. For an assortment that changes little, a more complex link weighs less against manual work than for a collection that changes every season.
To determine what level of data is actually needed, and where you stand now, it helps to first clarify exactly what is being asked of you. in a few questions to see where your company stands now provides an initial picture without you having to set up a complete system right away.
The phases that determine the timeline
There are roughly three phases. First is the inventory: what data do you already have, what is missing, and who has it. That is usually the work that is most underestimated, because it is not only about your own administration but also about what suppliers and manufacturers can provide. Next comes the setup: a choice of how and where the data is recorded, and how the QR code gets to the product. Finally comes the rollout: testing, checking whether the link works at the level of the individual article, and making the process repeatable for new collections.
The first phase is usually the longest, and that is also where most delays occur. A second supplier who responds months later, a manufacturer who provides data in a different format than expected, or an internal discussion about who is responsible for keeping it up to date — these are not technical problems, but they do determine the total timeline.
Where it gets stuck in practice
Three bottlenecks keep coming up. The first is unclear responsibility for who leads the process within the company: purchasing, IT, or the person responsible for compliance. Without a clear owner of the process, it stays stuck between departments. The second is the assumption that the software supplier will 'just handle it' — while the supplier often only provides the technology and not the substantive data on fiber composition, origin, or care. You must provide that data yourself or through your suppliers.
The third bottleneck is that the scope of the obligation is not yet finally established. The delegated act that sets out the exact requirements and the date of entry into force is expected according to the European Commission's work plan in 2027, with clothing where the textile content is eighty percent or more as the first category. As long as that act is not in place, it is difficult to determine with complete certainty which level of detail of data will be precisely required in future. This does not mean that waiting is wise — you can start data collection now — but it explains why some companies are postponing the connection until the requirements are clearer.
What makes the implementation period shorter
Companies that complete the process relatively quickly usually have two things in common: one clear point of contact internally, and an early, concrete request to suppliers about which data they can provide and in which format. Waiting until the obligation officially comes into force does not shorten the implementation period — it only shifts the moment when the bottlenecks arise.
It is also worthwhile to check which data you are already collecting for other purposes, such as product safety or internal quality control, and whether that can be reused. A complete overview of the obligations and the associated data questions, sorted by subject, can be found in the knowledge base with explanations per topic. It is also useful to understand where the information on texpas.eu comes from and how it is compiled, so that you know what you do and do not have to check yourself; you can read that on the page where the information comes from.
The exact duration of your own process cannot be stated in general terms — it depends on your assortment, your suppliers and your internal organization. For questions that specifically affect your situation, a lawyer or the competent supervisory authority is the right point of contact.
Would you like to get an impression of where your company stands now, before you allocate time for a connection? Take the free quick-scan or browse through the subjects in the frequently asked questions about the textile passport to see which step is most obvious for you.