China ends second-life battery enterprise listing scheme, removing 100 companies
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued Announcement No. 20 on 30 July 2026, repealing the second-life provisions in the 2024 industry conditions for processing waste traction batteries and ending the corresponding enterprise listing scheme. Existing material-recycling enterprise lists remain valid. The announcement also reiterates the ban on using waste traction batteries in electric bicycles and other legally prohibited applications.
The change concerns the 2024 Industry Conditions for the Comprehensive Utilisation of Waste Traction Batteries from New Energy Vehicles. The official annex identifies 100 second-life enterprises to be removed, drawn from the second through fifth batches of announced companies.
Battery products manufactured from waste traction batteries must meet the quality standards for their intended applications. Organisations and individuals are prohibited from using waste traction batteries in electric bicycles or other applications barred by laws, administrative regulations or mandatory standards. This applies to intact batteries and to packs, modules and cells produced by splitting, regrouping or assembly.
Relevant technical standardisation bodies must review the national, industry and other second-life battery standards within their remit and expedite their repeal or revision to meet the management requirements.
The responsible authorities must also advance the repeal or revision of related policies and standards. They are to coordinate enforcement with other departments and investigate conduct including the manufacture of non-compliant battery products from waste traction batteries.
Relevant associations must review their names, business scopes and work activities, including those of subordinate bodies such as specialist committees and branches, and revise references to second-life battery use. The announcement also requires them to stop related promotion, conferences, exhibitions, consulting, training and exchange activities.
The Interim Measures for the Recycling and Comprehensive Utilisation of Waste Traction Batteries from New Energy Vehicles, jointly issued by six departments, took effect on 1 April 2026. The 2021 measures governing second-life traction battery use were repealed on the same date. Announcement No. 20 follows with changes to the industry conditions, enterprise lists and related policies, standards and activities.