On March 30, 2026, SAC/TC207(Environmental Management) issued notice to call for drafting units for national technical guidance (GB/Z documents) named Water footprint assessment - Water stress index calculation method (project no.: 20256242-Z-469, hereinafter referred to as “the Technical Guidance”).

This newly drafted Technical Guidance will be under the organization and management of SC5 (Life Cycle Assessment) of SAC/TC207(Environmental Management), and the Notice clarified the required qualifications for entities that intend to apply to participate in the standard drafting, specifically the entities shall:

ž   be able to provide professional support for document development. The recommended experts by the application entity should have strong professional working capabilities and be able to fully participate in the standard formulation and revision process and complete the assigned technical tasks on time.

ž   have a foundation for standard research and development work, be willing and able to provide technical resource support, such as data, verification, samples, etc. and other necessary support for the standard formulation and revision work.

ž   list less than 2 experts (included) as the representatives of the drafting units.

The deadline for submitting applications will end on April 25, 2026, and the final drafting units will be chosen by SAC/TC207 after consideration on applicant qualification, potential contribution and involvement of the applicants.

For foreign stakeholders, China’s current standard system on water footprint stays rather preliminary with few existing effective standards. The most essential is GB/T 33859-2017 Environmental management—Water footprint—Principles, requirements and guidelines, an identical adoption of ISO 14046:2014 and the first national standard that is published and implemented in China. The only sector that has its own national water footprint standard is iron and steel, with the standard GB/T 42663-2023 Water footprint assessment requirement for iron and steel industry (come into force on March 1, 2024). But in consideration of the importance of green transition and full lifecycle management of China in the 15^th Five-year Plan period. It is expected that more relevant water footprint standards or requirements may be issued for more sectors and products, therefore it would be necessary for stakeholders that have business in China to keep up with relevant updates and progress.