(Yicai Global) July 20 -- China will tighten its regulation of batteries and portable power banks to ban uncertified products in August 2024.

Unauthorized battery packs are not allowed to exit factories, be sold, exported, or used in 12 months whereas the certification system will already be adopted on Aug. 1, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced recently.

Last September, the General Office of the State Council said lithium-ion batteries and portable power banks should be included in the national safety system for market access. Currently, over 90 percent of all products that are checked based on the requirements are qualified. The current system covers 96 kinds of items in 16 categories, including electric appliances, automotive products, and toys.

China is the global manufacturing hub of lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones and laptops but these products pose overheating and fire hazards. In China, over 10 percent of lithium-ion batteries used in phones are substandard, according to the results of a national inspection. The success rate for portable power sources is 60 to 80 percent.

Widening the scope of the safety system has been fruitful as now 94 percent of lamps and lanterns, included in the system, are qualified whereas the rate was 32 percent before. Some 97 percent of child safety seats are accepted, up from less than 10 percent.

Editor: Emmi Laine