MIIT Tightens Retired Battery Rules, TOB Supports Compliance

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has issued Announcement No. 20 of 2026, repealing and revising policies and standards related to the "cascade utilization" (second-life use) of retired power batteries from new energy vehicles (NEVs) and regulating related industry activities. Published on July 30, 2026, the announcement marks a significant shift in how China manages the end-of-life pathway for EV batteries, and a clear signal that battery products must meet application-grade quality standards under stricter regulatory scrutiny.

For TOB NEW ENERGY, an integrated battery solutions provider serving more than 6,000 factories, universities, and research institutions globally, the policy confirms the direction the company has long championed: compliant, quality-driven battery manufacturing and material-level recycling, rather than unregulated reuse of retired cells.

What the Announcement Changes

End of cascade-use enterprise administration. The cascade utilization provisions of the "Industry Standard Conditions for Comprehensive Utilization of Retired Power Batteries from New Energy Vehicles (2024 Edition)" are repealed. MIIT will no longer administer a cascade-use enterprise announcement list, and previously announced cascade-use enterprises are removed from the qualifying list. The announced regeneration (material recycling) enterprise list remains in effect.

Stricter product compliance. Battery products manufactured from retired power batteries must meet the quality standards of their application field. The announcement explicitly prohibits any organization or individual from using retired power batteries, whole or after splitting, reorganization, or reassembly, as battery packs, modules, or cells in electric bicycles or other fields prohibited by laws, administrative regulations, and mandatory standards.

Standardization cleanup. Relevant standardization organizations are directed to review and accelerate the repeal or revision of national and industry standards related to cascade utilization, aligning the standards framework with the new management requirements.

Stronger enforcement. Competent authorities are directed to strengthen supervision and enforcement, investigating and punishing the production of non-compliant battery products from retired power batteries. Social organizations are also required to stop cascade-use-related promotion, exhibitions, consulting, and training activities.

What the Policy Shift Means for Battery Manufacturers

The announcement does not end battery reuse as a concept. It redefines how retired batteries should be handled responsibly.

Material-level recycling becomes the compliant end-of-life pathway. With cascade-use enterprise administration discontinued and the regeneration enterprise list retained, the policy directs the industry toward recovering battery materials, including cathode and anode active materials, foils, and other recoverable components, rather than reassembling aged cells into new consumer products.

Quality standards now govern every battery product. Any battery product entering an application must meet that application's quality requirements, regardless of whether its materials are virgin or recovered. This raises the compliance bar for manufacturers and strengthens the competitive position of suppliers with mature quality systems.

New-battery manufacturing capacity becomes more valuable. As unregulated second-life channels close, the demand for compliant, application-grade new batteries, and for the equipment, materials, and process engineering that produce them, increases.

TOB's Role in a Compliant Battery Value Chain

TOB NEW ENERGY's integrated model, including battery equipment, battery materials, and turnkey production lines, positions the company to support manufacturers navigating this regulatory transition.

Compliant new-battery production. TOB designs and delivers production lines that manufacture new cells from qualified materials, covering electrode preparation, cell assembly, formation, and testing. For manufacturers serving applications now subject to stricter scrutiny, TOB's engineering-first approach helps configure equipment to application-specific quality requirements rather than generic specifications.

Application-grade quality systems. TOB's manufacturing and quality infrastructure, including IATF 16949 automotive-grade quality management, ISO 9001/14001/45001 management systems, CE and UL product certifications, and a TUV Rheinland on-site supplier capability assessment, demonstrates the control discipline the new policy demands: stable processes, traceable quality, and verified product compliance.

Material recovery and regeneration support. With the regeneration pathway now the retained framework for retired-battery comprehensive utilization, TOB's battery materials business and process engineering capabilities support customers working with recovered feedstocks, from material characterization and small-batch custom materials to pilot-line validation of recycling-derived inputs.

R&D depth across chemistries. TOB's 3,000+ square-meter R&D center , 60+ national patents, and joint laboratory with Central South University keep the company current across LFP, NMC, LCO, LMFP, sodium-ion, and solid-state technologies, the knowledge base manufacturers need when adapting product lines to new compliance and performance requirements.

Customization and after-sales support. Every TOB engagement begins with process engineering: understanding cell chemistry, format, throughput, and application constraints before configuring equipment. After-sales support, including installation, commissioning, operator training, spare parts, and process debugging, helps customers stabilize yield and quality as they adjust to evolving regulations.

A Clearer, Higher-Quality Battery Future

The MIIT announcement reflects a maturing battery industry: retired batteries are a material resource to be recovered responsibly, not a feedstock for low-cost, non-compliant products. For manufacturers, the message is straightforward: build compliant, quality-verified battery products, and treat end-of-life batteries as materials to be recycled, not cells to be resold.

TOB NEW ENERGY is aligned with that direction. With integrated capabilities spanning equipment, materials, process engineering, and production-line delivery, TOB supports customers in building compliant battery manufacturing capacity, from lab-scale R&D to GWh-scale production.

Source: MIIT Announcement No. 20 (2026), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, July 30, 2026.

TOB NEW ENERGY is an integrated battery solutions provider supplying battery equipment, battery materials, and turnkey production lines from lab-scale to GWh-scale. Founded in 2012 with engineering roots dating to 2002. Over 6,000 customers globally across 30+ countries. Visit www.tobmachine.com.