Step 4
Data governance
The DPP is not a single document. It is a layered, versioned, lifecycle record. Decisions about access, granularity and retention made early are expensive to unwind.
Access layers
Public
Transparency for consumers: composition overview, care, origin, end-of-life. No authentication.
Professional
Repairers, refurbishers, recyclers: disassembly, spare-parts, substance detail. Authenticated role-based access.
Authorities
Market surveillance, customs, tax authorities: full record, including confidential business information. Authenticated, audited.
Granularity: model vs batch vs instance
| Level | When to use | Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Stable, high-volume, identical SKUs. | One DPP covers thousands of units. Cheap, but no unit-level traceability. |
| Batch | Controlled-variation products: chemicals, batteries, food. | DPP per batch or production run. Good for recalls. |
| Instance | High-value, in-life updating: EV batteries, aircraft parts, furniture with spare parts. | DPP per serialised unit. Most expensive; mandatory for batteries. |
Versioning & retention
- Every material change to the DPP creates a new version. Prior versions remain resolvable by version identifier.
- Retention runs from end-of-production until at least 10 years after the last unit's end-of-life (sector rules may extend).
- Retired records move to an archive layer but remain queryable by authorities for the retention period.