diff --git a/docs/evidence/2026-09-27-digest-retention-release.json b/docs/evidence/2026-09-27-digest-retention-release.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aeaf8fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/evidence/2026-09-27-digest-retention-release.json
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+{
+  "date": "2026-09-27",
+  "platform_source": "743def1",
+  "activity_revision": "a12f1169f9d130058ce767f5b26de0606997916c",
+  "platform_application_revision": "4b9c4ce",
+  "tool_sha256": "fa3d4cc8cdcc14ecce509cf6865c6e4726d722f84814b97d40686d68d6ee5bb1",
+  "tests": {
+    "platform_retention_and_inventory": 20,
+    "activity_gitops": 17,
+    "ci": "all smoke and image build checks passed"
+  },
+  "production": {
+    "sync": "Synced",
+    "health": "Healthy",
+    "finished_at": "2026-09-27T14:06:20Z",
+    "worker_hash_verified": true,
+    "real_inventory_digest_protection_verified": true,
+    "synthetic_rollback_planner_protected": true,
+    "registry_requests_during_probe": 0,
+    "deletions": 0
+  },
+  "healthy_since": "2026-09-27T14:06:22Z",
+  "earliest_soak_eligibility": "2026-09-28T14:06:22Z",
+  "automated_promotion": false,
+  "retention_policy": "all versions of packages referenced by digest in additive live/rollback inventory are protected",
+  "remaining": "scoped source/sync broker, authenticated receipts and automatic rollback proof; automatic pattern execution readiness unchanged"
+}
diff --git a/docs/gitops-release.md b/docs/gitops-release.md
index 9f9d481..b9b09a1 100644
--- a/docs/gitops-release.md
+++ b/docs/gitops-release.md
@@ -81,3 +81,12 @@ live and rollback digests until RPF-WP-0048-T03 supplies general digest protecti
 Unattended promotion is not ready merely because the admission fixtures pass:
 authenticated receipts, identity binding, retention coverage and failed-health
 rollback proof remain required in ACTIVITY-WP-0041-T03.
+
+
+The subsequent retention safeguard rollout is recorded in
+[evidence](evidence/2026-09-27-digest-retention-release.json). RPF-WP-0048-T03 is
+complete: digest references now protect the whole package conservatively. The
+platform source pin and projected bytes are CI-verified; the worker reads the
+script from the existing GitOps ConfigMap. New healthy-since is September 27
+14:06:22 UTC, replacing the earlier observation window. Earliest eligibility is
+September 28 at 16:06:22 Berlin, conditional on healthy evidence and admission.
diff --git a/workplans/ACTIVITY-WP-0041-gitops-adoption.md b/workplans/ACTIVITY-WP-0041-gitops-adoption.md
index 0396f26..b0999ed 100644
--- a/workplans/ACTIVITY-WP-0041-gitops-adoption.md
+++ b/workplans/ACTIVITY-WP-0041-gitops-adoption.md
@@ -134,3 +134,19 @@ authority delegated. Existing GLAS/HFACT pattern-editing readiness is unchanged.
 
 Evidence: docs/evidence/2026-09-27-gitops-adoption.json. Activation authorization
 is State Hub decision 78a4b859-dd00-4623-b95b-121b0e1c915d.
+
+## Retention safeguard release — 2026-09-27
+
+RPF-WP-0048-T03 completed through the existing nine-resource GitOps projection.
+The platform-owned retention script is pinned to source commit/hash, CI verified,
+and mounted read-only from the existing ConfigMap. ArgoCD synced a12f116 and is
+Healthy; live worker hash/readback and a non-destructive rollback planner check
+passed. Digest-referenced packages are conservatively protected in full.
+No prune was executed. Evidence: docs/evidence/2026-09-27-digest-retention-release.json.
+
+This worker change resets conservative observation: healthy since 14:06:22Z,
+earliest eligibility September 28 at 16:06:22 Berlin. T03 still requires the
+scoped source/sync broker: ArgoCD Core offers no API-server token lane, and a
+Kubernetes Application patch grant cannot restrict fields. Concrete enforcement
+contract is platform docs/activity-core-release-admission.md. Authenticated
+receipts and automatic rollback proof remain required; no broad token is admitted.