The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China has proposed new mandatory national standards for power banks. The move comes amid growing concerns over the safety of lithium-ion battery-powered portable chargers.
According to a report from China, the proposed standards are part of a draft revision of the “Safety Technical Specification for Mobile Power Supplies.” MIIT is currently seeking public feedback on the plan. The new guidelines aim to improve product reliability and user safety by introducing tougher safety tests and regulatory oversight.
The revised standards include extreme stress tests such as overcharging, puncture, compression, and thermal abuse. These additions build upon existing safety requirements for lithium-ion batteries used in power banks. The proposal also plans to regulate key production processes and critical materials used in battery cells and packs. MIIT will also evaluate how power banks perform after long-term use and aging.
The push for stricter regulation follows a global rise in power bank-related incidents. In the United States, Anker has recalled around 1.16 million units of its PowerCore 10000 (model A1263) sold between June 2016 and December 2022. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported 19 incidents involving overheating, fire, or explosion. These events caused minor injuries and over $60,000 in property damage.
Australia has also raised concerns. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued 17 power bank recalls since 2020, with 34,000 faulty units still in use. Experts attribute the rise in safety risks to weak regulations and growing demand for portable charging devices. Airlines have also started tightening rules after a recent in-flight fire was linked to a power bank.
The MIIT proposal aims to address these issues by setting a higher safety benchmark for all mobile power products sold in China. If implemented, the new standards could influence global manufacturers and lead to stricter international safety norms.
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(Via)
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