// SPOKE — GS1 DIGITAL LINK
GS1 Digital Link for ESPR — The Standard for DPP Data Carriers
GS1 Digital Link is the international standard that defines how product identifiers are encoded in QR codes and other data carriers to link physical products to their digital data — including Digital Product Passports. Under ESPR (EU 2024/1781), GS1 Digital Link is expected to be the primary technical standard for DPP data carriers. This page explains what GS1 Digital Link is, how it works, how it relates to ESPR DPP requirements, and what manufacturers need to implement it.
What Is GS1 Digital Link?
GS1 Digital Link is a standard developed by GS1 (the global supply chain standards organisation, Wikidata Q731100) that defines a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) syntax for encoding GS1 product identifiers — such as GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) — in web-resolvable links. When a GS1 Digital Link URI is encoded in a QR code and scanned, the scanner is directed to a resolver service that can redirect to different digital resources depending on the context — for example, to a product page for consumers, to a DPP record for market surveillance authorities, or to a recycling guide for waste management operators.
The GS1 Digital Link standard is published as ISO/IEC 18975 and is maintained by GS1. It builds on the existing GS1 identification system (GTINs, GLNs, SSCCs, etc.) and extends it to the web, enabling any product with a GS1 identifier to have a machine-readable, web-resolvable digital identity. For ESPR compliance, GS1 Digital Link provides the technical foundation for the data carrier requirement — a QR code encoding a GS1 Digital Link URI can serve as the ESPR-compliant data carrier for a DPP.
How GS1 Digital Link Works
A GS1 Digital Link URI has a specific structure: it begins with a domain name (the resolver service), followed by the GS1 Application Identifiers that identify the product. For example, a GS1 Digital Link URI for a product with GTIN 09521234543213 and serial number 21 would look like: https://id.gs1.org/01/09521234543213/21/21. When this URI is encoded in a QR code and scanned, the scanner sends an HTTP request to the resolver service (id.gs1.org in this example), which resolves the URI to the appropriate digital resource based on the context of the request.
The resolver service is a critical component of the GS1 Digital Link infrastructure. It maintains a mapping between GS1 identifiers and digital resources, and it can redirect different types of requests to different resources. For ESPR compliance, the resolver must be able to direct market surveillance authority requests to the DPP record in the registry, consumer requests to a consumer-facing product page, and recycler requests to end-of-life information. The resolver can also enforce access controls — for example, requiring authentication for access to sensitive DPP data that is not publicly available.
GS1 Digital Link and ESPR DPP Requirements
ESPR's implementing regulations are expected to specify GS1 Digital Link as the recommended technical standard for DPP data carriers, alongside the ISO/IEC 15459 standard for data carrier formats. The key advantage of GS1 Digital Link for ESPR compliance is that it enables a single QR code to serve multiple purposes — it can link to the DPP record for compliance purposes while also linking to consumer-facing product information and retailer-facing supply chain data. This reduces the number of data carriers that need to be placed on a product and simplifies the data carrier management process.
For manufacturers who already use GS1 GTINs for their products (which is the case for most manufacturers selling through retail channels), implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR compliance is a relatively straightforward extension of their existing GS1 infrastructure. The GTIN already uniquely identifies the product — the GS1 Digital Link standard provides the mechanism to link that identifier to the DPP record in the registry.
Implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR
Implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR compliance involves the following steps. First, obtain a GS1 company prefix if you do not already have one. The GS1 company prefix is the foundation of the GS1 identification system and is required to assign GTINs to your products. GS1 company prefixes are available from national GS1 member organisations. Second, assign GTINs to all products that will require a DPP. Each product model should have a unique GTIN. Third, select a GS1 Digital Link resolver service — either a commercial resolver service or the GS1 Global Resolver. Fourth, configure the resolver to redirect DPP-related requests to your DPP registry. Fifth, generate QR codes encoding the GS1 Digital Link URIs for your products. Sixth, test the QR codes to verify that they correctly resolve to the DPP records.
| Component | Standard | Purpose | ESPR Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product identifier | GS1 GTIN (ISO/IEC 15459) | Uniquely identifies the product | Required for DPP product passport identifier |
| Data carrier URI | GS1 Digital Link (ISO/IEC 18975) | Web-resolvable link encoding the GTIN | Expected standard for DPP data carrier URI |
| QR code | ISO/IEC 18004 | Machine-readable encoding of the URI | Primary data carrier technology for DPP |
| Resolver service | GS1 Digital Link resolver spec | Redirects scans to appropriate resources | Routes authority/consumer/recycler requests to correct DPP data |
| DPP data format | JSON-LD (W3C) | Machine-readable DPP data | Expected format for DPP data in registry |
How GS1 Digital Link Works in Practice
A GS1 Digital Link is a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) that encodes a GS1 identifier — typically a GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) — in a web-resolvable format. When a consumer or compliance officer scans the QR code on a product, their device sends an HTTP request to the GS1 Digital Link URI. The resolver — a web service operated by the brand owner or a third-party DPP platform — receives the request and returns the appropriate response based on the context. A consumer scanning the same QR code as a market surveillance authority will receive different information — the resolver can serve consumer-facing product information to one request and full technical DPP data to another, based on the request headers and authentication credentials.
GS1 Digital Link URI Structure
The GS1 Digital Link URI follows a standardised structure defined in the GS1 Digital Link standard (GS1 Web URI Syntax, version 1.2). The URI consists of a domain name (the resolver domain), a primary key qualifier (the GS1 identifier type, such as /01/ for GTIN), the primary key value (the 14-digit GTIN), and optional secondary key qualifiers (such as /10/ for batch/lot number or /21/ for serial number). A complete GS1 Digital Link URI for a serialised product might look like: https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134352/21/ABC123456. The domain id.gs1.org is GS1's global resolver, but brand owners can use their own domain as the resolver domain, which provides additional brand control and analytics capabilities.
GS1 Digital Link Resolver Implementation Requirements
The ESPR regulation requires that the data carrier on a product resolves to the product's DPP. For GS1 Digital Link, this means the resolver must be operational and available 24/7 for the lifetime of the product — which for some product categories may be 10–25 years. Manufacturers must ensure their resolver infrastructure is robust, redundant, and capable of handling the expected request volume. The EU product database established under Article 12 of ESPR will serve as a fallback resolver for products whose manufacturer resolver is unavailable. Manufacturers that use a third-party DPP platform for their resolver should ensure their contract includes appropriate service level agreements for uptime and data portability — if the platform ceases operations, the manufacturer must be able to migrate their DPP data to a new resolver without breaking the QR codes already printed on products in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
GS1 Digital Link is an international standard (ISO/IEC 18975) that defines how GS1 product identifiers (GTINs) are encoded in web-resolvable URIs. When encoded in a QR code, a GS1 Digital Link URI links a physical product to its digital data, including its Digital Product Passport.
GS1 Digital Link is expected to be the recommended technical standard for DPP data carriers under ESPR implementing regulations. It is not the only permitted technology, but it is the most widely supported and is aligned with the EU's digital product infrastructure plans.
If you use GS1 Digital Link as your DPP data carrier standard (which is recommended), you will need a GS1 company prefix to assign GTINs to your products. GS1 company prefixes are available from national GS1 member organisations.
A GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is a numeric identifier that uniquely identifies a product. A GS1 Digital Link is a URI that encodes the GTIN in a web-resolvable format, enabling the GTIN to link to digital resources including DPP records.
ESPR permits any machine-readable data carrier technology specified in the delegated act. However, GS1 Digital Link QR codes are preferred because they are compatible with existing retail scanning infrastructure and enable multi-purpose use of a single QR code.
How GS1 Digital Link Works
GS1 Digital Link (ISO/IEC 18975) is a standard that transforms a product's GS1 identifier (typically a GTIN — Global Trade Item Number) into a web URI that can be encoded in a QR code, NFC chip, or other data carrier. When a consumer, market surveillance authority, or recycler scans the QR code, they are directed to a URL that provides access to the product's Digital Product Passport and other product information. The key innovation of GS1 Digital Link is that it uses a standardised URL structure that can be resolved by any GS1-compliant resolver, ensuring long-term accessibility regardless of changes to the manufacturer's website.
A GS1 Digital Link URL has the following structure: https://[domain]/[primary-key-qualifier]/[primary-key-value]/[additional-qualifiers]. For a product with a GTIN of 09506000134352 and a batch number of ABC123, the GS1 Digital Link URL would be: https://id.gs1.org/01/09506000134352/10/ABC123. The domain (id.gs1.org in this example) is the GS1 resolver domain. The "01" qualifier indicates that the following value is a GTIN. The "10" qualifier indicates that the following value is a batch/lot number. The resolver at id.gs1.org receives this URL and redirects the user to the appropriate DPP landing page based on the GTIN and batch number.
GS1 Digital Link vs. Simple URL QR Codes
Many manufacturers currently use simple URL QR codes on their products — QR codes that encode a static URL pointing to a product information page on the manufacturer's website. While this approach is simple to implement, it has significant limitations for ESPR compliance. First, a static URL is fragile — if the manufacturer's website changes, the URL breaks and the DPP becomes inaccessible. Second, a static URL cannot encode product-specific identifiers (batch number, serial number) in a standardised way, making it difficult for market surveillance authorities to verify compliance for specific batches. Third, a static URL does not support the multi-link functionality required by ESPR — the ability to link to different resources (DPP data, repair manual, recycling instructions) from a single data carrier.
GS1 Digital Link addresses all of these limitations. The standardised URL structure ensures long-term accessibility through GS1's global resolver infrastructure. The URL can encode product-specific identifiers (GTIN, batch number, serial number) in a standardised way. The multi-link functionality allows a single QR code to provide access to multiple resources — the DPP data, the product information sheet, the repair manual, and the recycling instructions — with the appropriate resource selected based on the context (consumer, market surveillance authority, recycler).
Implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR Compliance
Implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR compliance involves four steps. First, obtain a GS1 company prefix and assign GTINs to your products. If you do not already have a GS1 company prefix, you can obtain one from your national GS1 member organisation (GS1 South Africa, GS1 China, GS1 India, etc.). Second, register your GTINs with a GS1 Digital Link resolver. The GS1 global resolver (id.gs1.org) is the default resolver, but you can also use a private resolver hosted by your DPP registry provider. Third, create DPP records for your products in a compliant DPP registry and link them to your GTINs. Fourth, generate GS1 Digital Link QR codes for your products and affix them to the product, label, or packaging.
The QR code must meet the technical requirements specified in the relevant delegated act. For most product categories, the QR code must be at least 10mm × 10mm in size, must have a minimum contrast ratio of 4:1 between the dark and light modules, and must be printed using a durable ink or substrate that will remain readable throughout the product's expected lifespan. For products with a long expected lifespan (such as furniture or industrial equipment), the QR code must be affixed using a method that will survive the product's full lifecycle — not a paper label that will fade or peel within a few years.
QR Code Technical Requirements for ESPR Compliance
The QR code used as a data carrier for an ESPR DPP must meet specific technical requirements to ensure that it is readable throughout the product's lifecycle. The minimum size requirement for a QR code on a product label is typically 10mm × 10mm, but larger sizes are recommended for products that will be handled in challenging environments (high temperature, UV exposure, chemical exposure). The QR code must have a minimum contrast ratio of 4:1 between the dark modules and the light background. The error correction level must be at least Level M (15% error correction), which allows the QR code to be read even if up to 15% of the code is damaged or obscured.
The QR code must be printed using a durable method that will remain readable throughout the product's expected lifespan. For products with a short lifespan (such as packaging materials), a standard printed label is sufficient. For products with a long lifespan (such as furniture, appliances, or industrial equipment), the QR code must be affixed using a more durable method — such as laser engraving, chemical etching, or a tamper-evident label with UV-resistant inks. A QR code that becomes unreadable before the product reaches end-of-life is a compliance failure, regardless of whether the DPP data is still accessible in the registry.
NFC vs. QR Code for ESPR DPP Data Carriers
ESPR delegated acts may permit or require NFC (Near Field Communication) chips as an alternative or supplement to QR codes. NFC chips offer several advantages over QR codes: they can store more data, they can be read without line-of-sight, they can be embedded within the product (not just on the surface), and they can be updated after manufacture (writable NFC chips). However, NFC chips also have limitations: they require a compatible reader (most modern smartphones can read NFC, but not all), they are more expensive than printed QR codes, and they can be damaged by physical impact or electromagnetic interference.
For most product categories, a GS1 Digital Link QR code will be the primary data carrier, with NFC as an optional supplement. For product categories where the QR code cannot be affixed to the product surface (such as bulk materials or products with complex shapes), NFC may be the preferred option. The applicable delegated act will specify which data carrier technologies are permitted for each product category. Manufacturers should not assume that a QR code will always be sufficient — they should check the data carrier requirements in the relevant delegated act before finalising their DPP implementation.
Implementing GS1 Digital Link in Practice
Implementing GS1 Digital Link for ESPR compliance requires manufacturers to work through several technical steps. The first step is to obtain a GS1 Company Prefix from the national GS1 member organisation. The GS1 Company Prefix is a unique identifier assigned to a company that forms the basis of all GS1 identifiers, including GTINs (Global Trade Item Numbers) for products. Manufacturers who already use GTINs for retail barcode purposes can use their existing GS1 Company Prefix for their DPP QR codes.
The second step is to construct the GS1 Digital Link URI for each product. The URI structure is: https://[domain]/[primary-key-qualifier]/[primary-key-value]/[secondary-key-qualifier]/[secondary-key-value]. For a product identified by a GTIN, the URI would be: https://esprregistry.com/01/[GTIN]/21/[serial-number]. The primary key qualifier for GTIN is "01", and the secondary key qualifier for serial number is "21". The domain can be the manufacturer's own domain or the domain of the DPP registry provider.
The third step is to encode the GS1 Digital Link URI in a QR code and affix it to the product. The QR code must meet the technical requirements specified in the ESPR implementing regulations (minimum size, minimum contrast ratio, minimum error correction level). The fourth step is to ensure that the DPP data is accessible at the URI — either by hosting the DPP data on the manufacturer's own server or by registering the product with a DPP registry provider that will host the data.
// NEXT STEP
Register Your Digital Product Passport
Compliance with ESPR begins with a registered, machine-readable Digital Product Passport. The DPP Registry at digitalproductpassports.co.za provides the infrastructure to mint, host, and verify DPP records for manufacturers and exporters supplying the EU market.
Register Your Digital Product Passport →