On December 16, 2024, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued the Requirements of Industrial Conditions for the Comprehensive Utilization of Waste Traction Batteries for New Energy Vehicles (2024 Version) (hereinafter referred to as “the 2024 Requirements”). It has come into force on the issuing day.

The legal basis for the 2024 Requirements is mainly but not limited to the Circular Economy Promotion Law of the People's Republic of China (2018 Amendment), and the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes (2020 Revision). The purpose of having such regulation is to enhance the management and implementing requirements on utilization of waste traction battery, with its largely increasing use with the rise of the EV sector in China, especially for the enterprises that are actually doing or involving in two types of work on comprehensive utilization of waste traction battery: echelon use, or recycling for re-use. It specifically puts forward the requirements on qualification (technology, equipment and techniques etc.), application/approval/announcing procedures and corresponding regulators for enterprises whose business is in the sector. 

China has issued the first version of the Requirements of Industrial Conditions for the Comprehensive Utilization of Waste Traction Batteries for New Energy Vehicles in 2019 under the same purpose, and a supportive document named the Interim Measures for the Administration of the Announcement of Industrial Conditions for the Comprehensive Utilization of Waste Traction Batteries for New Energy Vehicles (2019 Version). These two regulations have been replaced by the 2024 Requirements. And up to this date, there have been more than 150 enterprises that have been approved as qualified for making comprehensive utilization of such batteries, including not only those who specialized in the field, but also whole EV manufacturers and battery manufacturers.  

Comparing with the 2019 version, some main changes of the 2024 Requirements include:

• Put forward specific requirements for different steps and technical processes in the process of echelon use and recycling;

• Increase the technical indicators of lithium recovery in the smelting process from not less than 85% to not less than 90%;

• Add technical indicators such as the recovery rate of electrode powder after crushing and separation not less than 98%, and the impurity aluminum content less than 1.5%.

• Add new energy vehicle waste power battery disassembly, coding standards;

• Revise relevant requirements in accordance with GB 18599-2020 Standard for pollution control on the non-hazardous industrial solid waste storage and landfill

• Add the requirements on the proportion of R&D costs in the business income enterprises to actively declare high-tech enterprise qualifications, and constantly improve the level of technology and technology.

Foreign stakeholders that may cooperate with relevant enterprises in the waste traction battery sectors are advised to dig into further details of the regulation change and ensure the right cooperation partner is chosen, or the one that they work with is till qualified for staying in the business.

If you have any question or need further assistance, please reach us at: info@bestao-consulting.com.

BESTAO presents free monthly report on China compliance. It offers a comprehensive solution on observing various standards and regulatory activities in China. Sample of the monthly report please refer to：

https://www.bestao-consulting.com/detail?id=1740&status=bestao_library

Subscribe the free monthly report by register as a BESTAO website member at: https://www.bestao-consulting.com/login, or write an email to assistant@bestao-consulting.com.