> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.passr.eu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Regulations Guide
> Plain-English explanations of EU ESPR, French AGEC, PFAS restrictions, and REACH — and what they mean for your brand.
# Regulations Guide
This guide explains the key European regulations that affect outdoor and activewear brands — in plain English. Passr's platform is built specifically to help you comply with all of them.
***
## 1. EU ESPR — Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
**What it is**: ESPR is the cornerstone EU regulation that will require **Digital Product Passports (DPPs)** for most product categories sold within the EU. For textiles and apparel, it establishes mandatory minimum disclosure requirements.
**Who it affects**: Any brand selling textile products (garments, footwear, accessories) into the European Union market — regardless of where the brand is based.
**Key requirements for apparel brands**:
| Requirement | Details |
| :---------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Digital Product Passport** | Machine-readable product passport accessible via QR code or NFC |
| **Material transparency** | Exact material composition percentages |
| **Recycled content** | Declaration and verification of recycled fibre content |
| **Durability** | Information on expected product lifespan and repairability |
| **Chemical safety** | Disclosure of regulated substances (PFAS, heavy metals) |
| **Supply chain traceability** | Geographic origin of key production stages |
**Timeline**:
* 2025–2026: Pilot programmes and DPP technical standards being finalised
* 2027: DPP mandatory for specific textile categories (expected)
* 2030: Full rollout across all apparel categories
Starting your DPP compliance now — even before it's legally mandatory — gives your brand a competitive advantage and avoids the last-minute rush that will affect most of the industry in 2026–2027.
***
## 2. French AGEC Law — Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy
**What it is**: France's AGEC law (Loi Anti-Gaspillage pour une Économie Circulaire) includes specific obligations for brands selling into the French market. It predates ESPR and is already in force.
**Who it affects**: Brands selling textiles directly to French consumers — via retail, e-commerce, or wholesale.
**Key requirements**:
| Requirement | In Force Since | Details |
| :------------------------------- | :------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Assembly location disclosure** | 2022 | Where the garment was sewn/assembled |
| **Dyeing location disclosure** | 2022 | Country where dyeing and finishing took place |
| **Recycled content percentage** | 2022 | Percentage and type (post/pre-consumer) |
| **Microplastic presence** | 2023 | Declaration if product sheds microplastics (synthetic fabrics) |
| **Recyclability** | 2023 | Whether the product can be recycled at end-of-life |
| **Reparability index** | Phased | Score from 0–10 indicating how easily the product can be repaired |
Passr's **Supply Chain mapper** directly satisfies the assembly and dyeing location requirements. Material composition data covers recycled content and microplastic declarations.
***
## 3. PFAS Restrictions
**What it is**: PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in water-resistant coatings, non-stick finishes, and stain repellents. The EU is phasing them out due to their persistence in the environment and human body ("forever chemicals").
**Impact on outdoor apparel**: Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coatings on jackets, pants, and footwear have traditionally used PFAS. Brands are under increasing pressure to switch to PFAS-free alternatives.
**Key regulations**:
| Regulation | Scope | Status |
| :-------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------ |
| **EU REACH Annex XVII** | Restricts specific PFAS (PFOA, PFHxA group) in textiles | In force |
| **EU PFAS Universal Restriction** | Broad restriction covering thousands of PFAS | In process — expected 2025/2026 |
| **France AGEC** | Requires disclosure of PFAS presence | In force |
**How Passr helps**:
* Declare PFAS status per product (PFAS-Free / Contains PFAS / Not Applicable)
* Upload laboratory fluorine test reports as verifiable evidence
* The PFAS declaration is displayed prominently on the public passport
A PFAS-Free declaration without a supporting lab report is a marketing claim. Uploading a certified total fluorine test result (e.g. to EN 17681) converts it into a verified, auditable disclosure.
***
## 4. EU REACH — Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
**What it is**: REACH is the EU's comprehensive chemicals regulation. It restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in consumer articles — including textiles.
**What it means for apparel brands**: Any product sold in the EU must not exceed the REACH concentration limits for substances of very high concern (SVHCs) — including certain heavy metals, flame retardants, and azo dyes.
**Key points**:
* If a product contains an SVHC above 0.1% by weight, consumers have the right to know — this is a transparency obligation, not an outright ban
* ESPR will extend REACH transparency requirements significantly — SVHC declarations will need to appear in Digital Product Passports
Passr's Compliance Locker includes a **Chemicals** section where you can log any REACH SVHC declarations per product.
***
## 5. Regulation Timeline at a Glance
```
2022 ──► French AGEC: Assembly & dyeing location disclosure mandatory
2023 ──► French AGEC: Recyclability & microplastic declarations
2025 ──► PFAS universal restriction expected in EU
2026 ──► ESPR pilot DPP programmes begin for textiles
2027 ──► ESPR DPPs mandatory for first textile categories
2030 ──► Full ESPR DPP rollout across all apparel
```
***
## 6. How Passr Keeps You Covered
| Regulation | Passr Feature |
| :------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------- |
| ESPR — DPP requirement | Digital Product Passport on verify.passr.eu |
| ESPR — Material transparency | Compliance Locker (Material Composition) |
| ESPR — Supply chain traceability | Supply Chain mapper |
| AGEC — Assembly/dyeing location | Supply Chain node types |
| AGEC — Recycled content | Material Composition (Recycled flag) |
| AGEC — Recyclability | Care & End-of-Life section + Recycler Portal |
| PFAS disclosure | PFAS status declaration + lab report upload |
| REACH SVHCs | Chemicals section in Compliance Locker |
***
## Next Steps
Common questions about regulations, timelines, and compliance evidence.
Start filling in your compliance data today.