On 3 April 2026 China formally published the mandatory national standard Safety Technical Specification for Portable Power Banks (GB 47372-2026), which will apply from 1 April 2027. The standard marks the end of an era of unconstrained growth for the power bank industry and the start of a new phase of strong supervision and high standards.

Five dimensions of safety

Building on GB 31241 and GB 4943.1, the new standard tightens requirements across five dimensions that address the industry's real pain points.

Stronger intrinsic battery safety: the standard explicitly raises protection against high temperature, overcharging and crushing, and adds a nail penetration test for cells, reducing risk at source.

Lithium plating detection after cycling: a new check for lithium plating after ageing reduces the risk of internal short circuits during long-term use, addressing the problem that batteries become more dangerous as they age.

Smart management requirements: the standard sets out real-time monitoring of key parameters such as cell voltage and temperature, and requires products to store and report abnormal events, safeguarding consumers' right to information.

Unique product code management: power banks must carry a unique identification number, through which consumers can check core information such as the cell brand, improving transparency.

Full control of the manufacturing process: requirements are set for raw materials and production process control, raising safety levels at source.

Action roadmap for manufacturers

The transition period from 3 April 2026 to 1 April 2027 is only twelve months. We recommend a three-stage approach.

Stage 1: benchmarking, now to June 2026

Obtain the full text of the standard and compare it with existing products;

Carry out internal testing on key items such as nail penetration, overcharge protection and lithium plating after cycling;

Identify key materials, such as cells and protection ICs, that may need new suppliers.

Stage 2: improvement and submission, July to December 2026

Upgrade the BMS to meet the smart monitoring and abnormal event storage requirements;

Establish a unique code traceability system for products;

Submit samples six to eight months in advance to allow time for CCC certificate renewal.

Stage 3: switchover and close-out, January to March 2027

Complete the compliant switchover of the whole product range;

Update CCC certificates;

Clear old-standard inventory in advance to avoid unlawful sales after the application date.

Compliance is a threshold, not a cost

In the short term the new standard will bring cost pressure and technical challenges for some manufacturers. In the longer term, however, it is an opportunity for the industry to reshuffle.

Companies that complete compliance planning early will gain:

· Greater market trust, as consumers are willing to pay for safety;

· Less destructive competition, as inferior products are removed;

· Smoother export channels, as some indicators in the new standard align with international practice.

As a professional testing and certification body, NTEK will support companies throughout, providing one-stop services from standards interpretation and technical consulting to testing and certification, and working with the industry to promote high-quality development of the power bank sector.