Data Governance Act: what it means for data sharing in logistics

Short answer: The Data Governance Act (Regulation (EU) 2022/868) does not govern which data you share, but the trusted conditions under which sharing can happen. It introduces recognised data intermediaries, rules for re-use of protected public-sector data, and a framework for data altruism. For logistics this means safer, more neutral sharing of supply-chain and flow data.

What the regulation governs

The Data Governance Act is a horizontal framework: it applies across sectors and focuses on trust around data sharing, not on the content of the data itself. According to the regulation and the European Commission's policy page, it rests on three main pillars:

• Re-use of certain protected public-sector data — data held by public

bodies that is subject to protection (such as commercially confidential or personal data) may, under conditions, be made available for re-use.

• Data intermediation services (data intermediaries) — parties that

facilitate data sharing between holders and users must notify themselves and meet neutrality requirements.

• Data altruism — a framework within which organisations can make data

voluntarily available for purposes of general interest.

The regulation applies across the EU. For the exact dates of application and transitional provisions, see the main text on EUR-Lex.

Data intermediaries and neutrality

The core for data sharing is the recognised data intermediary. Such a service may not use the intermediated data for its own commercial gain and must connect parties on a neutral basis. The aim, according to the European Commission, is to remove distrust: participants know the intermediary has no hidden interest in the data passing through its hands.

For logistics this matters because supply-chain data is often sensitive — volume agreements, rates, routes, cargo information. A neutral, regulated intermediary can facilitate such sharing without parties fearing that their data will be used against them.

What it means for logistics

The Data Governance Act imposes no logistics-specific obligations; it makes sharing easier and more reliable. In practice it can provide building blocks for:

• Data spaces in transport and mobility, where shippers, carriers and hubs

exchange data through a trusted framework.

• Access to available public-sector data (for example on infrastructure or

traffic) for planning and optimisation, where released for re-use.

• Neutral intermediation in cooperation between competitors or supply-chain

partners.

Note: the Data Governance Act is separate from the Data Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/2854), which does determine who is entitled to which data. The two complement each other. Anyone wishing to share or receive data is well advised to assess both frameworks together.

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