EU Notifies WTO Of Battery Passport Data-Access Draft

The European Union has notified the World Trade Organization of draft rules governing access to non-public battery passport information. Notification G/TBT/N/EU/1248, dated 26 October 2026, sets a WTO comment deadline of 25 December 2026 and indicates proposed adoption in January 2027.

The draft implementing regulation would identify people with a legitimate interest in restricted data and set limits on downloading, sharing and publishing it. It is a proposal, not an adopted access regime.

Access Depends On The Information

Article 1 identifies repairers, remanufacturers, repurposers, waste-treatment operators, recyclers and relevant vocational training centres as eligible for specified information in Annex XIII of the Batteries Regulation. Purchasers would have access to component and replacement-spare information, while purchasers and their representatives could access information concerning individual batteries.

The groups do not receive identical access rights. The draft allocates different categories of information to different users, including safety information for eligible end-of-life vehicle and electrical-waste treatment facilities.

Restrictions On Sharing And Retention

For the restricted information covered by Article 2(1), access would support assessment of a battery’s condition, residual value and potential further use, or repair, reuse, repurposing, remanufacturing and recycling decisions. Downloaded information could be kept only as long as necessary for the permitted purposes.

Sharing and publication would generally be restricted, with specific exceptions for defined recipients and information. These include certain disclosures to emergency services, poison centres, prospective purchasers and authorities, as well as disclosure authorised by the economic operator placing the battery on the market. Eligible users could use, download, share, publish and reuse the specified safety information without restriction.

Implementing The Batteries Regulation

The proposal builds on the legitimate-interest access framework in Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, as explained in the draft’s recitals. The Commission’s separate feedback process opened on 19 October and closes on 16 November 2026. That deadline is distinct from the WTO comment deadline.

The Commission’s register still lists planned adoption in the fourth quarter of 2026, while the later WTO notification indicates January 2027. Both are indicative: the act remains a draft. It provides for entry into force 20 days after EU Official Journal publication.