1. Background: The First Dedicated Mandatory National Standard for Power Banks Officially Released

On March 31, 2026, GB 47372-2026, the mandatory national standard Safety Technical Specification for Power Banks, jointly formulated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and relevant authorities, was officially issued and will be fully enforced on April 1, 2027, with a 12-month transition period.

This is China’s first dedicated mandatory national standard for the power bank industry. Previously, power banks complied with multiple general standards. The lack of specialized mandatory regulations led to uneven product quality and frequent safety incidents. The release of this new standard marks the official entry of the power bank industry into the "dedicated standard era".

• Standard No.: GB 47372-2026
• Standard Name: Safety Technical Specification for Power Banks
• Issuing Authority: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
• Release Date: March 31, 2026
• Mandatory Implementation Date: April 1, 2027
• Transition Period: 12 months

2. Detailed Interpretation of Five Core Updates

Change 1: Enhanced Intrinsic Battery Safety | New Nail Penetration Test

For the first time in consumer battery regulations, the new standard introduces a battery nail penetration test. A specified steel needle penetrates the cell at a regulated speed to assess fire and explosion risks.Crush test requirements are also tightened: flat compression is upgraded to round rod compression, with higher pressure thresholds, greatly raising the access requirements for power bank cells.

Key Test Items

• Nail penetration test (regulated needle diameter, penetration speed and observation time)
• High-temperature endurance test (simulating high-temperature usage in summer)
• Overcharge test (simulating charger failure and abnormal abuse)
• Round rod compression test (simulating mechanical extrusion damage)

Change 2: Lithium Plating Detection After Cycle Aging

Targeting battery degradation from long-term use, the new standard adds mandatory lithium plating detection after cycle aging:

• Conduct charge-discharge cycling to simulate long-term service conditions
• Detect metallic lithium precipitation on the negative electrode, a critical cause of internal short circuits
• Evaluate aging battery safety to reduce hidden risks for long-term users

Change 3: Intelligent Management Requirements

Power banks are required to support standardized intelligent management functions:

• Real-time monitoring of core parameters including battery voltage and temperature
• Storage and retrieval of abnormal operation data to protect consumer rights
• Marking of recommended safe service life to guide timely replacement of aging products

Change 4: Unique Product Coding Management

Every power bank must be marked with an exclusive unique identification code, acting as a product ID:

• Consumers can inquire about core information such as cell brands via the code
• Realizing full lifecycle traceability and standardized market supervision
• Curbing counterfeit and low-quality products

Change 5: Full-Range Manufacturing Control

The new standard establishes comprehensive control over the entire production chain:

• Raw material compliance requirements for cells, circuit boards and housings
• Standardized production processes and quality management systems
• Mandatory factory testing for penetration, lithium plating and other critical items
• Traceability management supported by unique coding

3. Enterprise Compliance Timeline

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4. FAQ

Q1: When will GB 47372-2026 be fully enforced?A: Officially released on March 31, 2026, with a 12-month transition period. Full mandatory implementation starts on April 1, 2027. Enterprises may adopt the original or new standard during the transition period.

Q2: What are the critical new test items compared with old regulations?A: The nail penetration test and cycle aging lithium plating detection are the most critical additions. These two tests are introduced for the first time for consumer power banks, significantly elevating the industry safety threshold.

Q3: Can existing certified power banks continue to be used?A: Yes. Previously purchased 3C-certified power banks remain valid for daily use and airline transportation in accordance with civil aviation regulations. The new standard only applies to products manufactured and sold after April 1, 2027.

Q4: When should enterprises initiate testing and certification preparation?A: It is recommended to complete product gap assessment and testing solutions in the first half of 2026. Formal certification applications will be available from July 2026. Enterprises should finish full compliance upgrading before the mandatory date to avoid production and sales restrictions.

Q5: What are the requirements for unique coding?A: Each power bank must be printed with an exclusive unique code for product traceability and information inquiry. Enterprises need to establish a complete coding management system and submit relevant solutions during certification.

5. Conclusion

The issuance of GB 47372-2026 ends the long-term absence of dedicated mandatory standards for the power bank industry. New requirements including nail penetration testing, lithium plating detection and intelligent management have comprehensively raised the safety baseline for portable power products.

Enterprises should make full use of the 12-month transition period, conduct early product evaluation and testing, and cooperate with professional testing institutions to achieve smooth compliance transformation.

This content is compiled based on publicly released standard information. For customized testing solutions, please contact professional testing institutions.