A summary of the new requirements for passports issued by Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries is as follows:

•  As of October 26 of this year, all countries must issue passports
  with digital photos or the required chip (e-passport) containing
  biometric information about the individual.
• However, anyone issued a machine-readable passport prior to
  October 26, 2005, will be “grandfathered in” and allowed to visit the
  U.S until the passport expires.
• All VWP countries must issue passports with the required biometric
  identifier on a chip (e-passport) by October 26, 2006.
• The Department of Homeland Security also reiterated that beginning on
  June 26, 2005 all VWP visitors entering the U.S. must possess a machine-readable passport (MRP).
  

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a guide to passport
requirements for inbound Visa Waiver travelers to the U.S. Click here to
view the guide.