On July 5, 2024, the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) released the Notice on Initiating the Statistical Analysis on the Implementation of Mandatory National Standards (hereinafter referred to as the Notice). The exercise can be effectively seen as a follow-up to the Opinions on Establishment of a Statistical Analysis and Reporting System for the Implementation of Mandatory Standards, which were issued by SAC on April 25, 2024. Please click here to find out more details.
Specifically, the Notice outlines the requirements for the subjects of the statistical analysis, major considerations, methodology, reporting, and organizational implementation. A brief introduction of each part is provided below.
Subject of the statistical analysis. The Notice targets all the mandatory national standards that have been implemented since 2020, that is, those that had completed three years of implementation by the end of 2023. A list of eligible standards is annexed at the end of the main text of the Notice, together with the corresponding competent governmental authorities. Apart from the standards in the list, other standards deemed noteworthy by relevant administrative departments under The State Council can also be analyzed, either because they present high risks or have a potentially high impact on the society.
Major considerations. The considerations are similar to the ones of the official review of mandatory standards that takes place every five years, yet more extensive. Specifically, while carrying out the statistical analysis, the research must also look into the restrictions on implementation, implementation situation, and associated benefits, in addition to the relevancy and main coordination challenges of the standards.
Methodology. The Notice details the process of the statistical analysis, from the collection of materials and information to surveying, panel discussions, statistical analysis, and data quality control. Each part entails specific requirements to ensure the accuracy of the final report.
Report. The report template is annexed at the end of the main text of the Notice.
Organizational implementation. The statistical analysis must be carried out by provincial-level administrations for market regulation, relevant administrative departments under The State Council, and relevant competent authorities. These bodies may delegate the work to other relevant institutions. The deadline for submitting the report and relevant data is set for November 30, 2024. SAC will then compile the report and select valuable case studies to promote.
Differing from the official review that takes place every five years for each mandatory national standard, the statistical analysis is part of China’s endeavors to follow up on the implementation of mandatory national standards currently in force. The goal is to identify and understand potential implementation gaps while laying the foundation for the official review or relevant policy-making.
