Two Mandatory National Standards for PV Modules in China to Take Effect on June 1, 2027

On May 25, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China officially approved and released two mandatory national standards—*Safety Requirements for Photovoltaic Modules* and *Requirements for Nameplate Marking of Photovoltaic Modules*—which were organized and formulated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Both standards are scheduled to officially take effect on June 1, 2027, following a 12-month transition period. These standards aim to comprehensively regulate the competitive order within the photovoltaic (PV) industry, curb false advertising and destructive competition characterized by low quality and low prices, and establish a solid foundation of standards for the high-quality development of China's PV sector.

1. Comprehensive Coverage of Core Content in Both Mandatory National Standards

1.1 *Safety Requirements for Photovoltaic Modules*: Establishing a Multi-Dimensional Baseline for Product Safety

This standard sets forth mandatory requirements across four major dimensions: electrical safety, fire safety, mechanical safety, and the restriction of hazardous substances, while also clearly specifying the corresponding test methods for each.

Electrical Safety: Regulates requirements for electrical protection and insulation protection of PV modules, and establishes quality and compatibility requirements for module raw materials and components, thereby preventing safety hazards such as electric shock and leakage;

Fire Safety: Defines indicators for hot-spot endurance, fire rating, and combustion performance, and imposes strict constraints on the flame retardancy of component materials, thereby comprehensively reducing fire risks associated with PV modules;

Mechanical Safety and Environmental Protection: Supplements requirements for mechanical safety and restricts the use of hazardous substances, ensuring a balance between product reliability and eco-friendly attributes.

1.2 *Requirements for Nameplate Marking of Photovoltaic Modules*: Eradicating the Chronic Problem of False Power Rating Claims

This standard focuses on the standardized management of product markings. It mandates unified specifications for nameplate parameter labeling, test methods, and requirements for metrological traceability, while also clearly defining tolerance ranges and verification criteria for electrical performance parameters. Through strict regulatory constraints, the standard ensures that the performance data for every single module is authentic, verifiable, and fully traceable throughout its lifecycle. This approach aims to eliminate market irregularities—such as deliberate "false labeling" of power output and deceptive advertising—at the source, thereby cutting off the root causes of destructive competition driven by low quality and low prices.

2. Significance of Standard Implementation: Regulating the Market and Accelerating Industry Upgrading

Yu Xiuming, Vice President of the China Electronics Standardization Institute, stated that the promulgation of these two mandatory national standards highlights a threefold value: First, it reinforces the industry's safety baseline, effectively mitigating risks associated with accidents such as fires and electric shocks. Second, it eliminates fraudulent nameplate data, thereby safeguarding the interests of both end-users and power station investors. Third, it accelerates the phasing out of obsolete production capacity, fosters a market order characterized by fair competition, and drives the industry’s transition from a focus on "competing on price and scale" to one centered on "competing on reliability and technology."

The implementation of these standards does not entail large-scale technical retrofitting or additional capital expenditure. Furthermore, the 12-month transition period provides enterprises with ample time for testing, certification, process optimization, and inventory clearance, thereby ensuring a smooth transition for the industry.

3. Synergistic Policy Efforts: Advancing the Governance of "Anti-Involution" in the PV Industry

The release of these two mandatory standards represents a pivotal measure in the regulatory governance of the photovoltaic (PV) industry. Prior to this, on April 17, 2026, four government agencies—the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Energy Administration—jointly convened a symposium on the PV industry. This meeting specifically outlined plans to regulate the order of industrial competition and address issues related to "involution-style" (excessively cutthroat) competition.

The meeting explicitly called for comprehensive governance measures—including capacity regulation, standards-led development, innovation-driven growth, price enforcement, quality supervision, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property protection—to steer the PV industry away from disorderly competition and toward high-quality, sustainable development. The China Photovoltaic Industry Alliance, along with core energy enterprises such as the "Five Major Power Generation Groups," participated in the meeting, forging a consensus on the standardized development of the industry.

Conclusion

The formal adoption of these two mandatory national standards for PV modules in China establishes clear safety and quality redlines through rigorous regulations. This initiative not only resolves current industry pain points—such as misleading specifications and low-quality competition—but also provides an institutional guarantee for the long-term, healthy development of the PV industry. With their official implementation scheduled for June 1, 2027, China's PV industry is poised to further eliminate obsolete production capacity and optimize its competitive landscape, thereby facilitating a comprehensive industry-wide leap from leadership in scale to leadership in value and quality.