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# Data Carrier

> The physical or digital medium, such as a QR code, data matrix or RFID tag, that carries a product identifier and provides access to a Digital Product Passport.

## Definition

A linear bar code symbol, two dimensional symbol, or other automatic identification and data
capture medium that can be read by a device and that encodes, or resolves to, the unique
identifier of a product, batch or item.

## Expanded Explanation

Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation the data carrier is the required physical
link between an object and its passport data. It may be placed on the product itself, on its
packaging or on accompanying documentation, depending on what the applicable delegated act allows
for that product group.

Common carriers include the QR code, the GS1 DataMatrix, and radio frequency identification tags.
The choice is an engineering decision constrained by durability, surface area, marking method,
scanning distance and whether the item must be read individually. A carrier that survives the
product's service life matters for repair and recycling, where the passport is most useful and the
label is most likely to be damaged.

Good practice is to encode a resolvable identifier rather than the data itself. The carrier then
stays valid while the passport content is corrected or extended, and the same identifier can serve
several audiences through one resolution service.

## Why It Matters

Carrier decisions are difficult to reverse once products are in circulation. Printing a carrier that
encodes a plain URL to a marketing page, or one whose identifier cannot be resolved by third party
systems, produces a label that has to be reprinted rather than repointed.

## Common Misconceptions

#### The carrier stores the passport

In almost all designs the carrier stores only an identifier or a link. The passport data lives in
a system that can be updated, corrected and access controlled, which would be impossible if the
data were frozen into the printed symbol.

## Related Terms

* [QR Code](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/qr-code)
* [Product Identifier](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/product-identifier)
* [GS1 Digital Link](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gs1-digital-link)
* [GS1](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gs1)
* [Digital Product Passport](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/digital-product-passport)
* [Resolver](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/resolver)
* [GTIN](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gtin)

## Related Knowledge Base Articles

* [What Is a Digital Product Passport?](/docs/knowledge-base/digital-product-passports/what-is-a-digital-product-passport)
* [Who Needs a Digital Product Passport?](/docs/knowledge-base/digital-product-passports/who-needs-a-digital-product-passport)

## Related Articles

* [QR Code](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/qr-code)
* [GS1 Digital Link](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gs1-digital-link)
* [EPCIS](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/epcis)
* [GS1](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gs1)
* [GTIN](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/gtin)
* [Harmonised Technical Specification](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/harmonised-technical-specification)
* [Resolver](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/resolver)
* [QR Codes vs GS1 Digital Link: What's the Difference?](/docs/knowledge-base/standards-and-technology/qr-codes-vs-gs1-digital-link)

## See Also

* [Standards & Technology](/docs/knowledge-base/standards-and-technology/overview)
* [Implementation](/docs/knowledge-base/implementation/overview)

## References

* Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, Official Journal of the European Union:
  [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1781/oj)
* ISO/IEC 15459, Information technology, automatic identification and data capture techniques,
  unique identification: [https://www.iso.org/standard/54779.html](https://www.iso.org/standard/54779.html)
* GS1 General Specifications: [https://www.gs1.org/standards/barcodes-epcrfid-id-keys/gs1-general-specifications](https://www.gs1.org/standards/barcodes-epcrfid-id-keys/gs1-general-specifications)

## About This Article

About This Article

<dl>
  <dt>
    Last Reviewed
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2026-08-07
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Next Scheduled Review
  </dt>

  <dd>
    2027-08-07
  </dd>

  <dt>
    Article Version
  </dt>

  <dd>
    1.0
  </dd>
</dl>

tieback Knowledge is a continuously maintained reference library covering Digital Product
Passports, product traceability, product compliance and related regulations. Articles are
reviewed regularly as legislation, standards and implementation guidance evolve.

## Related Docs

* [Standards & Technology](/docs/knowledge-base/standards-and-technology/overview)
* [Digital Product Passports](/docs/knowledge-base/digital-product-passports/overview)
* [Implementation](/docs/knowledge-base/implementation/overview)
* [Glossary](/docs/knowledge-base/glossary/overview)