Paskelbta · Lithuania

China Releases 515 New National Standards: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

China’s market regulator has approved 515 new national standards covering high-tech, traditional industries, safety, and consumer products. For foreign founders, these standards shape compliance requirements and market opportunities. Here’s a concise overview.

China’s New National Standards: A Practical Guide for Foreign Founders

On October 23, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) approved and released 515 important national standards and national standardization guiding technical documents. According to the official announcement, these include 10 mandatory national standards, 466 recommended national standards, and 39 guiding technical documents. They span high-tech, traditional industries, safety production, and daily life. For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, these standards can affect product design, market access, and operational compliance. Below is a breakdown of what was published, based only on the official source.

High-Tech Sector

In the high-tech field, several standards target emerging technologies:

• Artificial intelligence and robotics: 16 national standards cover AI, humanoid robots, and industrial environment robots. They address AI system safety and robot technical requirements, aiming to set safety baselines and unify technical specifications.
• Semiconductors: 14 standards for semiconductor devices and integrated circuits aim to regulate the industry and strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Computing infrastructure: 7 standards for optoelectronic computing and intelligent computing set evaluation benchmarks for computing clusters.
• New energy: 4 standards for photovoltaics and new energy storage specify technical requirements for safe and efficient development.

Foreign founders in these sectors should note that these standards may become reference points for product certification, government procurement, and market supervision. Early alignment can reduce compliance risks.

Traditional Industries

Standards for traditional industries focus on upgrading quality and supporting green transition:

• Ship and marine engineering: 25 standards cover marine diesel generator sets, marine check valves, and remote operation and maintenance systems for offshore platforms.
• Aerospace: 12 standards for aircraft static converters and civil aircraft powerplant system terminology provide technical benchmarks for design and manufacturing.
• Equipment manufacturing: 49 standards for rolling bearings, reciprocating internal combustion engines, and EDM machines aim to improve core component quality.
• Building materials: 26 standards for photovoltaic glass, concrete, and cement support green and low-carbon transformation.
• Raw materials: 11 standards for steel and alloys, non-ferrous metal materials, and vanadium-titanium magnetite strengthen quality assurance.

For foreign founders in manufacturing or sourcing, these standards may influence supplier requirements and product specifications. Understanding them can help in negotiating contracts and ensuring market acceptance.

Safety Production

Safety-related standards include both mandatory and recommended measures:

• Public safety: 7 mandatory national standards cover spatiotemporal data security for intelligent connected vehicles and fire safety, focusing on data protection and urban-rural fire risk prevention.
• Social governance: 8 national standards address hazardous materials management, urban public facility operation and maintenance, and forest and grassland fire prevention. Additionally, 3 guiding technical documents support community and business continuity resilience building.

These standards emphasize preventive safety management and resilient city construction. Foreign founders operating facilities or handling sensitive data should review these requirements carefully, as mandatory standards carry legal weight.

Daily Life and Consumer Products

Standards affecting consumer goods and services include:

• Food labeling: A national standard for names of spices and condiments regulates Chinese and English names and plant parts used.
• Paper products: 12 standards for toilet paper and wallcoverings optimize performance and quality.
• Education services: 6 standards for elderly learning and educational organizations clarify management systems and service requirements, supporting vocational education branding and international cooperation.
• Sports and fitness: 2 standards for cycling sports glasses and esports equipment configuration aim to guide consumption.

Foreign founders in consumer goods, education, or sports sectors may find these standards relevant for product labeling, service quality, and market positioning.

What This Means for Foreign Founders

China’s standards system is complex, with mandatory standards (GB) and recommended standards (GB/T). The newly released batch indicates priority areas for regulators. While the announcement does not specify implementation dates or transition periods, foreign founders should monitor updates from SAMR and relevant ministries. Practical steps include:

• Review whether your products or services fall under any of the published standards.
• Check if mandatory standards apply, as non-compliance can lead to penalties.
• Consider engaging local testing and certification bodies to verify conformity.
• Incorporate standards into supplier agreements and quality control processes.

These standards are part of China’s broader effort to improve product quality, safety, and international trade facilitation. For foreign founders, staying informed can turn compliance into a competitive advantage.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

For assistance with company registration and compliance in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.