From September 19 to October 18, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) sought public comments on a number of proposed mandatory national safety standards for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in electronic and electrical equipment. The proposed standards include:

  • GB 31241.1: Safety of Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electronic and Electrical Equipment – Part 1: General Requirements
  • GB 31241.3: Safety of Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electronic and Electrical Equipment – Part 3: Electric Tools
  • GB 31241.4: Safety of Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electronic and Electrical Equipment – Part 4: Toys
  • GB 31241.5: Safety of Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electronic and Electrical Equipment – Part 5: Household Electric Appliances

The Chinese government’s Opinions on Deepening Reform of the Management System for the Electronics and Electrical Equipment Industry, issued in 2022, explicitly mandated that lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in electronic and electrical products, as well as mobile power supplies, be included in the scope of the China Compulsory certification (CCC). To implement this policy, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) incorporated lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in portable electronic products into the CCC system in March 2023.

To promote compulsory certification of lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in other electronic and electrical equipment and comply with the Standardization Law of China by streamlining mandatory standards, MIIT and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) plan to integrate existing and upcoming safety standards for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs into a series of mandatory national standards. These include:

  • Part 1: GB 31241.1 (already proposed), covering common and general requirements.
  • Part 2: A revision of the existing mandatory standard GB 31241-2022 Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Used in Portable Electronic Equipment – Safety Technical Specification.
  • Part 3: GB 31241.3 (already proposed), a conversion of the sector standard SJ/T 11808-2022 Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electric Tools – Safety Technical Specifications.
  • Part 4: GB 31241.4 (already proposed), a conversion of the sector standard SJ/T 11815-2022 Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Toys – Safety Technical Specification.
  • Part 5: GB 31241.5 (already proposed), a conversion of the sector standard SJ/T 11778-2021 Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Portable Household Electrical Appliances – Safety Requirements.
  • Part 6: A future plan to convert SJ/T 11796-2022 General Specification for Lithium-Ion Cells and Batteries Used in Electronic Cigarettes into a mandatory national standard, pending SAC approval.

Following the public comment period, these standards are expected to move swiftly into the formal drafting phase. As they will set the minimum requirements for products entering the Chinese market, overseas stakeholders are encouraged to actively monitor the progress of these standards and provide feedback to mitigate future compliance risks.