On September 9, 2026, China's National Public Service Platform for Standards opened a public-notice period for a proposed national-standard project titled Greenhouse gases - Quantification methods and requirements for carbon footprint of products - Primary batteries. The project would establish a common method for quantifying the product carbon footprint of primary cells and batteries.

It is classified as a new, recommended national standard rather than a mandatory standard, covers ICS 29.220.10 and has a planned 16-month development cycle. The National Technical Committee on Primary Batteries (TC176) would manage the project under the China National Light Industry Council, with joint management by the National Carbon Emissions Management Standardization Technical Committee.

The public-notice period closes October 9, 2026. No draft technical text, final standard number, conformity-assessment obligation, labeling requirement or effective date has yet been adopted.

Impact

Impact assessment: Low.

Key reasons: the publication starts a standards-development project and signals a future harmonized carbon-footprint methodology for primary batteries, but it does not provide a draft text or impose a binding calculation, verification or labeling duty.

Who is affected?

Primary-battery manufacturers, battery users, suppliers, sustainability teams, testing bodies and carbon-data providers.

Conclusion:

stakeholders should monitor the project and review whether existing lifecycle and supplier data can support a future China-specific product carbon-footprint calculation.