Published by ChinaMNC · Macheng

China Releases 515 New National Standards: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

China's market regulator approved 515 national standards covering AI, semiconductors, traditional industries, safety, and consumer goods. For foreign founders, these standards signal compliance requirements for product safety, data security, and market access when registering and operating a company in China.

China Releases 515 New National Standards: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

On October 23, 2026, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) approved and published 515 important national standards and national standardization guiding technical documents. These include 10 mandatory national standards, 466 recommended national standards, and 39 guiding technical documents. The standards cover high-tech, traditional industries, safety production, and daily life. For foreign founders registering and operating a company in China, these standards are more than technical rules—they shape product compliance, market access, and operational requirements. Here’s what you need to know.

Why These Standards Matter for Your China Company Registration

National standards (GB, GB/T) form the technical foundation of China's regulatory system. Mandatory standards (GB) are legally binding and often prerequisites for product certification, market entry, and import clearance. Recommended standards (GB/T) are voluntary but frequently referenced in contracts, procurement, and industry practice. When you register a company in China and plan to manufacture, import, or sell products, aligning with these standards is essential for compliance and avoiding penalties. The latest batch signals priority areas where authorities expect businesses to meet new requirements.

High-Tech Sector: AI, Semiconductors, and New Energy

In high-tech, the new standards include 16 national standards for artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and industrial environment robots. These cover AI system safety and robot technical requirements, setting safety baselines and unified specifications to support the AI and robotics industries. For founders in these fields, this means product safety assessments and technical documentation will need to reflect these standards.

Additionally, 14 standards for semiconductor devices and integrated circuits regulate the semiconductor industry and strengthen supply chain resilience. Another 7 standards for optical computing and intelligent computing standardize evaluation benchmarks for computing clusters. Four standards for photovoltaics and new energy storage set technical requirements. If your China company operates in these areas, expect to incorporate these standards into your quality management and certification processes.

Traditional Industries: Shipbuilding, Aerospace, Equipment Manufacturing, and Materials

For traditional industries, 25 standards cover marine diesel generator sets, marine check valves, and remote operation and maintenance systems for offshore platforms. These support research, safe operation, and green transformation of ships and marine engineering equipment. Twelve standards for aircraft static converters and civil aircraft powerplant system terminology provide technical criteria for aerospace product design and manufacturing.

Forty-nine standards for rolling bearings, reciprocating internal combustion engines, and EDM machines aim to improve quality of core components in equipment manufacturing. Twenty-six standards for photovoltaic glass, concrete, and cement support green and low-carbon transformation of building materials. Eleven standards for steel and alloys, non-ferrous metal materials, and vanadium-titanium magnetite strengthen quality assurance for basic raw materials. For foreign founders setting up manufacturing or sourcing operations in China, these standards affect product quality requirements and supply chain compliance.

Safety Production: Mandatory Standards for Smart Connected Vehicles and Fire Safety

Seven mandatory national standards for public safety cover spatiotemporal data security for intelligent connected vehicles and fire safety. These focus on data protection for smart vehicles and urban/rural fire risk prevention, further detailing data security baselines and rules for fire products and premises management. This is particularly relevant if your company deals with connected vehicles, data services, or fire safety equipment—non-compliance can result in product recalls or import blocks.

Eight standards in social governance cover hazardous materials management, urban public facility operation and maintenance, and forest and grassland fire prevention. Three guiding technical documents accompany these on community and business continuity resilience. These standards promote a shift toward preventive safety management and support resilient city construction.

Consumer Goods and Services: Daily Life Standards

For daily life, a national standard for names of spices and condiments regulates Chinese and English names and plant parts used. Twelve standards for paper products like toilet paper and wallpaper optimize performance and quality. Six education service standards for elderly learning and educational organizations clarify management systems and service requirements for elderly learners, supporting vocational education brands and Sino-foreign cooperation. Two standards for cycling sports glasses and esports equipment configuration aim to expand sports and fitness consumption.

What This Means for Your China Company Registration and Operations

When registering a company in China, your business scope and product categories determine which standards apply. For manufacturing, importing, or selling products in regulated sectors, you must ensure compliance with mandatory standards before market launch. Recommended standards, while voluntary, are often used by regulators and customers as benchmarks. For high-tech and emerging sectors, early adoption of these standards can be a competitive advantage and facilitate certification.

Foreign founders should consider these standards when drafting contracts, designing products, and preparing for inspections. If your company handles data (e.g., connected vehicles), the new mandatory data security standards require robust internal controls. For safety-related products, fire safety standards may require testing and certification. Education services standards may affect joint ventures in vocational training.

To navigate these requirements, it's advisable to consult with local experts during company setup. ChinaMNC can assist foreign founders with company registration, compliance mapping, and ongoing operational support.

Next Steps for Foreign Founders

Start by identifying which of the 515 standards apply to your business. Review the mandatory standards first, as they carry legal weight. Then assess recommended standards for market competitiveness. Incorporate compliance into your product development and quality management systems. When registering your China entity, ensure your business scope accurately reflects activities subject to these standards.

For personalized guidance on registering and operating a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.