There is no fixed implementation time that is the same for every company and product group. The exact date when the obligation for a product group comes into force is specified per group in the implementing regulation that applies to it, and this differs considerably between, for example, textiles, furniture and electronics. What does follow a similar pattern for virtually every company is the process you go through yourself to move from 'we need to do something about a product passport' to a working passport. That process typically consists of a number of recognisable phases, and most delays do not occur with the technology but with the data.
In practice, you see companies with multiple product groups experiencing implementation times ranging from several weeks to well over half a year, depending on how many product groups are involved, how well the data is already organised, and how many suppliers are involved. A single product with simple specifications can be arranged considerably faster than an assortment that is put together via multiple sub-suppliers.
The phases that virtually every company goes through
The first phase is finding out what role your company has exactly: are you a manufacturer, importer or another party in the chain, and which product groups apply to you. This role determines who is responsible for providing and maintaining the data. Companies that have not clarified this before can see in a few questions which elements are relevant for their situation, as an initial orientation.
The second phase is the inventory of data: what information must the passport contain for this specific product group, which of that data do you already have, which is with a supplier, and which is still completely missing. This is usually the phase that takes the longest, because data is often scattered across purchasing, quality and sometimes a foreign factory.
The third phase is actually collecting and checking that data from suppliers. Implementation time most often stalls here, simply because a supplier does not respond, does not provide data in the requested format, or because it only becomes clear late on that part of the information does not exist at all and must first be determined or measured.
What still needs to happen after that
Once the data is complete, the technical step follows: compiling the passport, linking it to a QR data carrier and arranging hosting for the duration that applies to your product group. This step is usually the fastest part of the entire process, provided the underlying data is correct. More on how that process works in practice can be found on the page how the data is processed into a passport.
After that, an internal review and approval round follows: who within your company signs off that the data is correct, and who is responsible if something changes with the product later. This sounds like a formality but in practice often takes more time than expected, especially in companies where multiple departments are involved with the product.
Why the process often takes longer than planned
The most common reason for delay is not the regulation itself, but your own data management. Data on materials, origin or repair options is often not recorded in a structured way anywhere, and requesting it from a foreign sub-supplier can take weeks. A second common reason is unclear roles in the chain: companies that both import and sell under their own brand sometimes only discover late that for part of the assortment a different role applies than expected, with different obligations as a result.
A third reason is that companies with multiple product groups tackle the process separately per group, while the requirements differ per group. If you have an overview of this beforehand, you prevent each product group from coming as a separate surprise. An overview per subject, researched per situation, can be consulted in the knowledge base with explanation per subject.
What you can do now to save time
Because data collection is the longest phase, it is also the phase where starting early yields the most. An initial inventory of what product data you already have, and where the gaps are, can happen well before an obligation comes into effect for your product group. Questions that come up frequently in this type of project, with brief answers, are collected on the page with frequently asked questions about the product passport.
For the exact deadlines and requirements that apply to your specific product group, the official regulation text or the competent supervisory authority remains the appropriate source; this article describes the process as it runs in practice, not the legal obligations of your own company. If you want a first impression of where you stand for your products, the free quick-scan gives an indication in a few minutes, without you having to have all data complete first.