On June 26,2025, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published an official response to Proposal No. 1481 from the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress. The proposal called for the establishment of a mandatory retirement system for household appliances. SAMR addressed in the response that promoting the development of the home appliance industry through standardization has always been a top priority. The administration also summarized its completed initiatives as of June 2025 and outlined the next steps to further strengthen the standards system of home appliance industry.

 

  1. Completed Initiative
  • Strengthen Industrial Policy Guidance

On March 13, 2025, China’s State Council issued the “Action Plan to Promote Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Trade-ins of Consumer Goods”. SAMR immediately responded to the Action Plan and issued the “Action Plan for Leading Equipment Upgrading and Consumer Goods Trade-in Programs with Standard ” on March 27 of the same year, aiming to upgrade the home appliance standards.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued three action plans that aim to accelerate technological breakthrough, enhance design capability, and promote high-efficiency energy-saving household appliances:

  • Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Action Plan(Published in June 2022)
  • Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Home Furnishing Industry（Published in Aug 2022）
  • Light Industry Growth Stabilization Work Plan (2023-2024)
  • Continuously Improve Safety Standards for Appliance Use

China has issued several national standards under this initiative.

Three mandatory national standards on ensuring product safety:

  • GB 4426-2024 Household and similar electrical appliances, electrical parts of sporting goods and electric toys – Safety technical specification(effective from Aug 1, 2026)
  • GB 44499-2024 Household and similar electrical appliances – Energy saving and environmental protection specification(effective from Sep 1, 2026)
  • GB 44498-2024 Household and similar electrical appliances – Health technical specification(effective from Sep 1, 2026)

 

Three national standards on energy efficiency grading:

  • GB 12021.2-2025 Maximum allowable values for energy consumption and energy efficiency grade for household refrigerating appliance(effective from June 1, 2026)
  • GB 12021.2-2013 Maximum allowable values for energy, water consumption and grades for household electric washing machines(currently effective)
  • GB 21455-2019 Minimum allowable values for the energy efficiency grades for room air conditioners(currently effective)

 

One voluntary national standard:

  • GB/T 21097.1-2007 General requirements on fixed number of years of safety use and recycling for household and similar electrical appliances(currently effective)

 

In addition, SAMR has launched several standard formulation and revision projects on home appliance safe use and recycling:

  • GB/T 21097-2025 General rules on safe service life and recycling for household and similar electrical appliances(effective from Jan 1, 2026)
  • 20242113-T-607 Safety service life for household and similar electrical appliance – Particular requirements for air-conditioners (in development)
  • 20242160-T-607 Requirements of take-back on waste household electrical products 20242120-T-607 Specification on recycled materials for household electrical products (in development)

 

  • Promote Energy-Saving Technologies

MIIT released National Recommended Catalog of Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Technologies and Equipment in Industrial and Information Technology Fields, which highlights highly efficient energy-saving innovation like:

  • Smart inverter dual-cycle air conditioning systems
  • Multi-connected AC units exceeding Tier 1 energy efficiency.

 

In addition, MIIT organized national campaigns (e.g., Energy Conservation Week) publicize successes in energy-efficient appliance adoption.

  • Appliance Replacement Programs

A 2024 initiative for 8 categories of home appliances (e.g., fridge, AC, washing machine) drove sales of 62 million units with 30% being Tier 1 energy-efficient products. Over 37 million consumers participated.

  • Strengthen Law Enforcement

SAMR’s Iron First campaign targeted counterfeit and substandard appliances, handling 10,126 cases in 2024 to ensure consumer safety.

 

  1. Next Steps
  • Accelerate the formulation and revision of safe service standardsfor typical appliances and energy efficiency standards for household appliances. Enhance public education on appliance safe service standards. Evaluate the need and feasibility of formulating mandatory safe service standards for appliances. Further improve standards for home appliance disassembly to minimize environmental harm and resource waste.
  • Expand the Appliance Replacement Program from 8 to 12 categories, leveraging green and smart appliance upgrades to drive the phase-out of obsolete models.
  • Fully implement the “Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Action Plan”, regularly update the National Recommended Catalog of Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Technologies and Equipment in Industrial and Information Technology Fields. Facilitate wider adoption and better supply-demand alignment of high-efficiency energy-saving appliances.

 

Chinese Source of the Article: https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/bzjss/art/2025/art_6916520ba676405dbf56bd494aad3b0c.html