Six-ministry measures take effect across the recycling chain
Responsibilities and traceability requirements span collection, transport and processing.
- Document / event
- Six-ministry Order No. 73
- Issuing / organising body
- MIIT, NDRC, MEE, transport and commerce ministries, SAMR
- Promulgated / web publication / effective
- 2025-12-31 / 2026-01-16 / 2026-04-01
- Nature and status
- Current joint departmental regulation
A joint departmental regulation
MIIT explained that earlier administrative documents had limited binding force and flow control. Joint Order No. 73 strengthened the framework through a departmental regulation. Its eight chapters and 50 articles cover manufacture and coding, collection, processing, information, supervision and legal liability.
All channels, the whole chain and the lifecycle
The framework covers manufacture, vehicle retirement, swapping and repair-related replacement, and assigns responsibilities across production, sales, repair, replacement, dismantling, collection and processing. Codes and digital identity connect lifecycle nodes. Missing batteries in retired vehicles are treated as missing vehicle components, with detailed arrangements provided separately.
Design, coding and technical information
Battery businesses must prioritise standardised, dismantlable designs and safer, recyclable materials; code cells, modules and packs to GB/T 34014; and attach durable, visible identification. They provide codes and necessary dismantling information to relevant businesses. Vehicle makers use serviceable connections and disclose maintenance information as required.
Collection responsibilities of the two producer groups
Battery producers establish collection points proportionate to sales at provincial level, except for batteries sold to vehicle manufacturers. Vehicle producers establish corresponding networks at city/prefecture level for vehicle sales. Each publishes and updates its network and collection information and cannot refuse waste batteries within its statutory collection responsibility.
Transfers by other businesses
Swapping operators, repairers and end-of-life vehicle dismantlers transfer removed batteries to lawfully established processors or legally established producer collection points. Battery and vehicle producers transfer collected batteries to processors, or process them themselves only where qualified to do so. Supplying dismantling equipment does not make an equipment vendor a lawful receiving operator.
Legal prerequisites for processing
Processing cannot proceed without required investment approval or filing, environmental assessment, supporting environmental and safety facilities, and discharge permits or registration. Resource processing includes dismantling, crushing, sorting and smelting. Equipment delivery and trial operation must be coordinated with the customer's procedural status.
Prohibited uses and product quality
Waste traction batteries must not be used directly or after processing in electric bicycles or other applications prohibited by law, administrative regulations or mandatory standards. Dropping the second-life category does not prohibit all further use: actual applications remain subject to product-quality requirements and specific prohibitions.
Digital identity and reporting
The national platform and digital-identity framework connect battery codes, vehicles, replacements, collection points, stock movements and processed-product destinations. Article 24 sets event-specific periods, including six months, the 15th of each month, and 15, 20, 30 or 40 calendar days. Responsibilities must be matched to the relevant provision and current platform procedures rather than a single reporting deadline.
Technical access and data security
Repairers, vehicle dismantlers and processors may obtain necessary dismantling information solely for their own handling of the corresponding batteries. The platform has network and data-security obligations; supervisors must protect commercial secrets, personal information and privacy obtained during inspections.
Supervision and penalties
Authorities may inspect sites, investigate, question parties and examine or copy records. Breaches involving codes, collection duties, transfers, reporting or project prerequisites can lead to correction orders, warnings or fines. Penalised processing businesses cannot apply for industry listing for two years, and listed businesses may be removed. The regulation provides explicit duties and enforcement consequences.
Earlier documents repealed together
From 1 April 2026, the 2018 collection measures, 2018 traceability rules, 2019 collection-network guide and 2021 second-life measures were repealed. They remain useful historical records but no longer provide a current compliance basis.
Parties, duties and information nodes
| Party | Main duty | Information nodes |
|---|---|---|
| Battery producers | Coding, technical information and applicable collection duties | Codes; collection points; stock movements |
| Vehicle producers | Vehicle–battery association, collection networks and technical information | Installation/sales; replacement; networks; stock movements |
| Swapping operators and repairers | Regulated transfer and replacement records | Replaced batteries and transfer destinations |
| End-of-life vehicle dismantlers | Lawful removal and transfer | Vehicle retirement and battery dispatch |
| Battery processors | Project procedures, safety, environment, processing and product destinations | Incoming codes, origin, receipt and product dispatch |
Each party reports the relevant events under Article 24, using the applicable deadlines and platform requirements.
Sources
- Current rulesSix-ministry Order No. 73: interim management measures
- Current rulesMIIT explanation of the 2026 measures
- Current rulesMIIT: 2026 regulation press conference