On January 27, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the Notice on Carrying Out the Pilot Program for Deepening the Reform of the Local Standards Management System, initiating local standards reform pilot program in 13 regions, including Hebei, Heilongjiang, and Shanghai.

The pilot program aims to explore new measures, mechanisms, and models for deepening the reform of the local standards management system. It seeks to reconstruct the local standards development process, reshape the standards system, and revamp the institutional framework to facilitate the establishment of a unified national market and promote high-quality development.

The Notice outlines key tasks, including:

  • Implementing a negative list for local standards to reduce the total number of existing local standards;
  • Establishing a new mechanism for full-process management of local standards to rebuild the standard development process;
  • Strengthening the management of local standards formulated by municipalities with districts and improving regulatory frameworks;
  • Enforcing responsibility for the implementation, citation, and supervision of local standards to enhance enforcement and oversight;
  • Exploring new approaches to transforming local standardization functions to improve local standardization capabilities.

As this document is not publicly accessible, specific measures remain unclear. However, it’s reported that the most notable change is the requirement for pilot regions to reduce their local standards by 40%.

China’s local standards management is facing multiple challenges. On the one hand, China has a vast number of local standards covering diverse topics; on the other hand, there is a lack of effective mechanisms to prevent potential conflicts and overlaps between local standards and national-level standards. Furthermore, the development of local standards requires significant resource investment, and if these standards are not effectively implemented, it could result in substantial resource waste.

The issuance of this document demonstrates the Chinese government’s proactive approach to addressing these issues. We will continue to monitor the progress of China’s local standards management reform and keep European stakeholders informed of the latest developments.

Reference: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/mtjj/art/2025/art_a82f3c583b1a4ec08ebf3a45bc1a1aa2.html