Standardization to Drive High-Quality Development of Power Battery Recycling — SAMR Holds a Special Press Conference

 

 

On the morning of October 17, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) held a special press conference on the standardization of power battery recycling and utilization. Officials including Liu Hongsheng, Director-General of the Department of Standards and Technology of SAMR; You Yong, First-Level Inspector of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT); Guo Chenguang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Standards Innovation of SAMR; and Xie Zaichun, Deputy Director-General of the Fujian Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, attended the event and answered media questions. The press conference was moderated by Sun Yanfeng, Deputy Director-General of SAMR’s Department of Publicity.

Standardization Ushers in a New Era for Battery Recycling

According to Liu Hongsheng, with the rapid growth of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, the country has become the world’s largest producer and user of power batteries. In 2024, the volume of retired power batteries recycled in China exceeded 300,000 tons, with a market value of more than 48 billion yuan. The market is projected to surpass 100 billion yuan by 2030. Power battery recycling has thus become an essential part of China’s green, low-carbon transition and a key measure to ensure resource security.

To implement the Action Plan for Improving the NEV Power Battery Recycling System, SAMR, together with MIIT and other ministries, has continuously advanced the construction of a national standardization framework. So far, 22 national standards related to power battery recycling have been issued, covering general requirements, disassembly procedures, residual energy testing, material recovery, and black mass quality standards, among others.

In particular, the national standard “Recycled Black Mass for Lithium-Ion Batteries”, which came into force on August 1, 2024, clarifies that black mass derived from spent batteries is not classified as solid waste and can be freely imported and traded. This breakthrough provides institutional support for the international circulation of recycled materials and strengthens the supply of critical metals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

A National Technical Committee for Battery Recycling Standardization to Be Established

Liu also announced that SAMR and MIIT are jointly promoting the establishment of a National Technical Committee for Power Battery Recycling Standardization. The committee will bring together stakeholders across the value chain — from raw materials and battery manufacturing to dismantling and refining — to plan and coordinate China’s battery recycling standard system.

It will focus on developing key national standards that address the recycling needs of various sectors, including electric vehicles, energy storage, rail transportation, and aviation, ultimately building a comprehensive and coordinated national standard system.

Thanks to standardization, leading recycling companies in China have already achieved nickel, cobalt, and manganese recovery rates above 99.6%, and lithium recovery rates around 96.5%, realizing both environmental and economic benefits. SAMR is also promoting the translation of Chinese standards into English to enhance their global influence.

MIIT: Standards to Ensure Safe and Efficient Battery Recycling

According to MIIT’s You Yong, power battery recycling plays a crucial role in ecological protection, energy security, and industrial upgrading. Over the past few years, MIIT and SAMR have jointly issued more than 30 standards, initially forming a full life-cycle system covering design, collection, and recycling.

In the next stage, MIIT will focus on three major areas:

  1. Source management – Promoting green design standards to make batteries easier to disassemble and recycle.

  2. Process management – Refining standards for residual energy detection, discharging, storage, and material utilization; strengthening carbon footprint accounting and traceability of recycled materials.

  3. Safety management – Accelerating the development of mandatory standards such as “Safety Requirements for Dismantling and Crushing of Power Batteries for Vehicles”, ensuring operational safety and preventing illegally reused cells from entering the electric bike market.

China’s Standards Are Going Global

Guo Chenguang from SAMR highlighted that international standards for power battery recycling remain in the early stages globally. Chinese experts are now fully participating in IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) working groups and have led the proposal of international standards such as the “General Guidelines for Deep Discharge of Batteries for Recycling.” Nearly 40 Chinese experts are currently involved in international standardization work, ensuring China’s full participation and leadership in global standard development.

Guo noted that China’s advanced recycling system, mature technologies, and complete standardization framework give it a leading edge worldwide. SAMR will continue to deepen cooperation with Europe, South Korea, and other regions to promote sustainable development of the global battery recycling industry through “China Standards.”

Fujian Province: A Pilot Model for Standardization Empowerment

According to Xie Zaichun from the Fujian Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Fujian has been at the forefront of national efforts to standardize power battery recycling, exploring an integrated model of “regulation + policy + technology.”

Key initiatives include:

  • Dual drivers of regulation and policy – Incorporating battery recycling into local legislation and offering financial incentives.

  • Encouraging enterprise innovation – Providing up to 1 million yuan in subsidies for organizations leading international or national standard development.

  • Strengthening technical support – Establishing a battery risk monitoring and technical assessment platform through Xiamen’s Quality Inspection Institute.

With standardization as a guide, local enterprises have achieved remarkable results. For instance, Brunp Recycling reported a 99.6% recovery rate for nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and a 96.5% rate for lithium, producing 17,100 tons of regenerated lithium salts annually. Another local firm, Quanzhou Qingneng, through a national pilot project, processed 237 tons of retired batteries annually, reduced carbon emissions by 238 tons, and generated 23 million yuan in revenue, forming a replicable demonstration model.

High Standards, High Quality, Sustainable Future

In conclusion, Liu Hongsheng emphasized that SAMR will continue to strengthen cooperation with MIIT and other authorities, accelerating the development, implementation, and international alignment of standards. The goal is to promote technological innovation, ensure safety, and enhance the overall quality and competitiveness of China’s battery recycling sector.

“Standards drive regulation, improve quality, and ensure safety,” Liu said. “As China’s power battery recycling standard system becomes increasingly complete, the nation is evolving from a ‘large recycler’ to a ‘standards powerhouse’, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global energy transition.”

 

Release date: October 17, 2025 Source: State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR)