China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued the “Interim Measures for the Management of Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization of Retired Power Batteries of New Energy Vehicles,” which will take effect on April 1. The rules aim to strengthen oversight of retired EV batteries by keeping them with vehicles at the point of scrapping and by tracing their entire lifecycle through a national information platform.
Under the new measures, the MIIT will develop a centralized database to track each battery from production, sales, repair, replacement, and dismantling through to recycling and final processing. This system is intended to close existing gaps in the management of end-of-life batteries, ensuring used cells do not enter unregulated channels.
The measures also establish technical and material standards for battery design. Manufacturers and importers must adopt low-toxicity, easily recyclable materials and mark every battery in compliance with the GB/T 34014 standard. Within six months of receiving mandatory product certification, producers must submit detailed technical information on battery disassembly procedures. Additionally, they are required to report vehicle sales dates, battery codes, and other identifying details within 20 days of issuing a certificate of conformity.
All battery and vehicle producers must set up recycling service stations in regions where their products are sold, publicize station contact details, and accept all retired batteries. Battery swapping operators and service enterprises are directed to transfer retired cells only to legally approved recycling or comprehensive utilization entities, including those run by battery and vehicle manufacturers.
These measures follow the establishment of a national technical committee in 2025 by the General Administration of Market Supervision and the MIIT to standardize recycling processes. In October 2025, local recycling firms reported recovery rates of up to 96.5% for lithium and over 99% for nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Industry forecasts suggest retired batteries in China could total 1 million metric tons by 2030. Last year’s domestic recycling market was valued at roughly 558 billion yuan. The new rules are expected to improve traceability, drive the expansion of authorized recycling infrastructure, and ensure that producers remain accountable for the full life cycle of EV batteries.
Source: CarNewsChina
