Next-Gen NFC Tag Tackles Counterfeits and Digital Product Passports

NXP Semiconductor has introduced a new connected NFC tag designed to help manufacturers fight counterfeits and comply with upcoming digital traceability regulations. The NTAG X DNA is a Type 4 NFC tag that combines secure authentication, high-speed data transfer, and support for both NFC and I²C interfaces.

With 16KB of memory and a data rate of 848 kbps, the tag can store and quickly share critical product information—such as authenticity credentials, configuration data, or Digital Product Passport (DPP) details—via any NFC-enabled mobile device. That makes it especially relevant ahead of the EU’s DPP regulation, which will require many products sold in Europe to include detailed digital records by 2027.

One of the standout features is SUN (Secure Unique NFC) authentication, a method that allows consumers or systems to verify a product’s authenticity in real-time using a smartphone. For industrial and embedded use cases, the dual-interface design allows for secure data transfer via NFC or direct connection to an MCU over I²C.

Security is a key part of the NTAG X DNA. It supports asymmetric cryptography, is Common Criteria EAL 6+ certified, and is backed by NXP’s EdgeLock 2GO service for provisioning UIDs and digital certificates. The tag can even wipe sensitive data if the host device is unpowered—useful in privacy-sensitive scenarios.

NXP says the new tag is aimed at applications in healthcare, smart home and industrial IoT, and gaming or mobile accessories—markets where device authentication, anti-counterfeiting, and seamless onboarding matter.