When will the EU's ban on the destruction of textile stock come into effect?

Information from Vietnam Textile and Garment Group, the Regulation on ecodesign for sustainable products replaces the current Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and establishes a framework for setting out ecodesign requirements for specific product groups and has come into force.

The Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products applies to “all goods” placed on the EU market or used in the EU, regardless of their origin, including goods placed from outside the EU. This is broader in scope than the previous Ecodesign Directive, which was limited to energy-related products. In simple terms, any product that is not covered by its own specific legislation is covered by the Regulation. However, there are some exceptions for food, medical products and living plants.

Timeline for publication dates of subsidiary legislation under ESPR. Photo: Vinatex

The EU Commission will focus on setting regulations for the following products: Iron, steel, aluminium, textiles (especially clothing and footwear), furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants and chemicals. For textiles, the EU Commission has started work on specific requirements and will draw up a list of priority products every three years in a separate work plan.

The Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products introduces a ban on the disposal of unsold clothing, accessories and footwear. This ban will come into effect two years after the Regulation comes into force (i.e. in mid-2026).

Textile and garment businesses will be required to report on unsold goods on their websites and are encouraged to do so in their annual sustainability reports. First, the Regulation imposes an obligation to disclose information and provide transparency on the business website. Accordingly, each financial year, businesses must disclose the following information: the quantity and weight of products destroyed each year, the reasons for destruction, the waste treatment methods used, and the measures taken to avoid destruction.

The obligation to disclose information about the winding up applies to large enterprises in the first full financial year after entry into force, i.e. 2026/2027. For medium-sized enterprises, the disclosure obligation is 2030/2031 (6 years after entry into force). However, small and micro enterprises (SMEs) are exempted from certain obligations to avoid unnecessary burden on these small enterprises.

An important aspect of the Regulation is the introduction of a Digital Product Passport, which acts as a comprehensive digital record of key product-related information and must be made available on the website and on the garment. The EU Commission will set up a dedicated website portal where all Digital Product Passports will be registered. The data stored on products linked to the Digital Product Passport is still being decided by the EU Commission and is expected to be available for textiles by the end of 2025.

Products without a Digital Product Passport will not be allowed to circulate on the EU market. Imported goods into the EU will have to provide a Digital Product Passport for verification by customs authorities during customs clearance to be allowed free circulation in the EU. The EU Commission will publish technical Digital Product Passport standards to guide passport companies and suppliers by 31 December 2025.

According to the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, the regulations detailing the eco-design requirements are unlikely to come into force until a year later, so are expected to be applied in the second half of 2025. In addition, the EU is expected to publish a three-year work plan, prioritizing eco-design requirements for each product type in March 2025, providing more detailed guidance on when products will be subject to closer scrutiny.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/quy-dinh-cam-tieu-huy-hang-det-may-ton-kho-cua-eu-khi-nao-co-hieu-luc-336610-336610.html