On July 9, 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) jointly issued a notice clarifying the first batch of the pilot certification catalog for product carbon footprint labeling in China. The catalog covers 17 product categories, including lithium batteries, photovoltaic modules, steel products, textile products, room air conditioners (see more details in the table below).
According to the first Knowledge Compendium on the Pilot Program for Product Carbon Footprint Labeling and Certification issued by SAMR in April 2025, participation in the product carbon footprint labeling pilot is voluntary. Priority is given to enterprises that demonstrate strong willingness, technical capability, and a solid foundation in carbon accounting.
The release of this catalog marks a critical step in transitioning China’s product carbon labeling certification system from a policy framework to practical implementation. To advance the pilot program, the SAMR subsequently convened a deployment meeting in Beijing on July 23, 2025. The program supports China’s green transition goals and follows the principle of “unified catalog, standards, rules, and labeling.” According to the meeting, implementation rules of specialized certification will be developed to provide lifecycle carbon footprint guidelines for enterprises and certification bodies. In addition, SAMR urged strengthened interdepartmental coordination, strict quality control in certification processes, and practical technical support for enterprises. By focusing on specific subdivided products and coordinating with subsequent product-specific certification implementation rules to be issued, China will establish a full-lifecycle product carbon footprint labeling certification framework.
Background: China’s Progressive Rollout of Carbon Footprint Labeling Certification
Earlier regulatory developments:
- August 2024: SAMR, along with other departments, launched a three-year pilot program for carbon footprint labeling and certification. The initiative covers eight key tasks: establishing a working mechanism, improving data quality, ensuring data security, enhancing management, strengthening quality control, innovating policies, evaluating outcomes, and expanding applications. Designated certification bodies conduct certification under unified rules during implementation, with provincial authorities supporting policy refinement and execution. Upon completion, provincial departments submit summary reports, and the SAMR evaluates results to promote successful practices.
- December 2024: The Secretariat of the National Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) unveiled 26 approved certification bodies for product carbon footprint labeling certification, including the China Quality Certification Center (CQC), formally initiating the certification system’s development.
- January 2025: SMAR and other departments released a list of selected pilot participants for product carbon footprint labeling and certification, covering 25 provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi. Specific products have been assigned to each participating region based on local industrial characteristics. The pilot program prioritizes products with strong market demand, high export pressure, significant emission reduction potential and robust data availability, such as lithium batteries, photovoltaic products, electronics, tires and electrolytic aluminum. It aims to accumulate practical experience for nationwide implementation of carbon footprint labeling certification.
- March 2025: CNCA issued first general implementation rules for product carbon footprint labeling certification, which lays the groundwork for nationwide adoption by defining the certification scope, modes, procedures and label design. (Click here to see our earlier coverage for more details)
Going forward, SAMR will expedite the Pilot Certification Program to develop replicable best practices, reinforcing China’s carbon labeling certification system and carbon footprint management framework. This effort underscores the country’s commitment to green institutional innovation and global climate governance leadership. For foreign stakeholders, the release of the catalog signifies both higher compliance requirements and potential increases in operational costs, but it also presents significant opportunities to enhance market competitiveness and brand image. SESEC will keep tracking its advancement and share the most recent developments.
Chinese sources of the article: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2025/art_9693e7262d8f494c8a7b644122cf4b3b.html
https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2025/art_98c5baffaf5a43bb8073827e93c55f24.html
https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/rzjgs/art/2024/art_b2119112323f4e02bb93de3cb48619a2.html
https://www.cnca.gov.cn/zwxx/tz/2024/art/2025/art_5605cfc80d754086a57c426e2b7632ce.html
https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/rzjgs/art/2025/art_7e5d08ee347a454bb0620019fb6df43f.html
https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/rzjgs/art/2025/art_7a0ac3998d06423bba72720b03c6af82.html
