Chinese DPP system under development
The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) is at the helm of advancing the Chinese Digital Product Passport (DPP) system. Established in 1957, CAICT is a scientific research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China, which has been instrumental in supporting major strategies, plans, policies, standards, tests, and certifications for the development of the national ICT sector and IT applications.
In its April 2025 bi-annual update on global DPP developments, CAICT has launched an in-depth proposal for the Chinese DPP system, focusing on standardising product data from Chinese companies for export purposes. The system aims to lower green trade barriers, ensure cross-border data security, and reduce compliance costs for Chinese export companies.
The DPP system is designed to address three critical "customs questions" in the product trade process:
Product Identity Information: Who are you?
Product Origin and Destination: Where are you coming from and where are you going?
Compliance with Standards: Whether you can pass customs, focusing on functions, performance, and green sustainable information.
The Chinese DPP system is designed in line with China’s Industrial Internet Initiative. To this end the system would have three layers: 1) National DPP Registration Management Service; 2) Industry DPP Registration Management Services; 3) Enterprise-level Registration Management Services. Also Chinese DPP standards are under development for rules and technical specifications for textile products and lithium-ion battery products.
First pilots are already on-going to build China’s DPP system for batteries. The Chinese battery IDs ecosystem was launched on January 1, 2025 to cover the entire supply chain from raw materials production to final battery production, based on an "identity card" for power batteries, covering battery information, disassembly and recycling, sustainability, manufacturers and suppliers, warning signs, and dynamic information.
The forward looking perspective from CAICT is that China should seek to negotiate with the European Union a principle of mutual recognition between the EU DPP system and China’s DPP system. The principle if agreed between the two bodies would result in acceptance of Chinese DPPs from Chinese DPP system for export of products into the EU and vice-versa, EU DPPs from EU DPP system for export of products into China.
A key relevant initiative linked to China’s future DPP system is the Chinese proposal for an international carbon code and passport for products. Dr. Luo Xiang, Chairman of the United Nations Global Leadership and ESG Project Office and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, is leading the preparatory works for this under the International Carbon Code Registration Administration. Proposed to be hsoted under UN specialised agencies and climate action departments of countries, the global unified carbon code registration system would have three identity values: carbon ID card, carbon product passport, and carbon credit rating.
For more information about the Chinese DPP system and proposal for a product carbon passport please read the Circular Intelligence Association briefing presentation.
