Six Ministries Issue New Rules: Full Lifecycle Oversight of EV Batteries to Begin in 2026

Recently, six government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), jointly issued the "Interim Measures for the Management of Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization of Spent Power Batteries from New Energy Vehicles," which will take effect on April 1, 2026. The new regulations emphasize "full-channel, full-chain, and whole-lifecycle" management, requiring comprehensive standardization of spent power battery recycling across all stages—from battery production, vehicle scrappage, battery-swapping operations, to maintenance and replacement. The rules explicitly establish the principle of "integrated scrappage of vehicles and batteries." If a scrapped new energy vehicle is missing its power battery, it will be deemed incomplete. Additionally, a nationwide traceability information platform for power batteries and a "digital ID" system will be established. Through unified coding and mandatory information reporting, the flow of batteries will become fully traceable. Violations—such as failing to surrender used batteries as required, neglecting recycling responsibilities, or breaching information management requirements—will be subject to legal penalties, including warnings and fines, to strengthen enforcement of the regulatory framework.