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A visual timeline of the ESPR milestones for unsold consumer products, from entry into force in July 2024 to the extension to medium-sized enterprises in 2030 and the Commission reviews due in 2031. Use it to plan your compliance work.

ESPR implementation timeline

Key dates for enterprises and investors, from entry into force to full application to medium-sized enterprises.

Completed

Upcoming

Future

Large Large enterprises

Medium Medium enterprises

All All operators

18 July 2024

ESPR enters into force

Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 enters into force. The prevention duty (Article 23) applies to all economic operators. Large enterprises’ first disclosure under Article 24 covers the first full financial year during which ESPR is in force (FY2025 for a calendar-year company).

All operatorsLarge: disclosure

Late 2024

Ecodesign Forum set up

After ESPR entered into force, the Commission called for members of the Ecodesign Forum, the expert group it consults on ESPR implementation.

Stakeholders

19–20 February 2025

First Ecodesign Forum meeting

The Forum meets for the first time, ahead of the Commission’s first ESPR Working Plan and the secondary legislation on unsold products.

Consultation

16 April 2025

First ESPR Working Plan adopted (2025–2030)

The Commission adopts the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan, COM(2025) 187. Priorities: textiles (apparel), furniture, tyres, mattresses, iron and steel, aluminium, plus 16 energy-related products carried over from the previous plan.

All sectors

9 February 2026

Commission adopts secondary legislation

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/296 sets the 10 derogations from the destruction ban. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2 sets the standardised disclosure format, the CN code categories and the verification rules (Annexes I to III).

LargeMedium (from 2030)

2 March 2026

Implementing Regulation enters into force

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2 (Official Journal, 10 February 2026) enters into force 20 days after publication. It applies from 2 March 2027.

All in-scope

19 July 2026

Destruction ban in force for large enterprises

In force since 19 July 2026: prohibition on destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear (Annex VII). Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/296 on derogations applies. Operators must document any derogation and inform waste treatment operators.

Large: destruction ban

TODAY

2 March 2027

Standardised disclosure format applies

Standardised Annex I format applies (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2). The template applies from the first full financial year after this date (FY2028 for a calendar-year company), and each disclosure must be published within 12 months of year end.

Large: standardised format

19 July 2030

All obligations extend to medium-sized enterprises

The destruction ban under Article 25 and the disclosure obligation under Article 24 apply to medium-sized enterprises from this date. Micro and small enterprises remain exempt.

Medium: full application

By March and May 2031

Commission reviews both regulations

The Implementing Regulation must be reviewed by 2 March 2031 and the Delegated Regulation by 12 May 2031 (and whenever a product is added to Annex VII). The review will consider whether high-quality recycling should justify a derogation, the ground in Article 25(5)(g).

All in-scope

Dates follow Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/296 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2 as published in the Official Journal. The Commission can add products to Annex VII by delegated act, which also triggers a review of the Delegated Regulation.

For the full regulatory detail behind each milestone, see our guide to the ESPR unsold products rules. Use the ESPR scope checker to confirm which dates apply to your organisation, or start tracking preparation with the compliance checklist. At Generation Impact Global, we help organisations manage ESG reporting timelines across multiple EU frameworks.