Glossary · China
Product traceability and identification in China
Also known as: NEV power battery traceability platform, industrial internet identifier resolution system, Chinese product traceability
In China, product traceability and identification are built through sector platforms and national infrastructure rather than a general digital product passport law. Examples are the national traceability management platform for new energy vehicle (NEV) power batteries, operating since 2018, and the industrial internet identifier resolution system for product identifiers.
- China
- DPP
In one sentence
China has no general DPP law; it uses a national NEV battery traceability platform (since 2018) and an industrial identifier resolution system.
Example
An EV battery made in China receives a code registered on the national traceability platform; if the same battery is exported to the EU from 2027, it also needs an EU battery passport.
How it applies
- NEV power battery traceability: Since 2018, manufacturers and recyclers record battery codes and lifecycle events on a national platform, supporting recycling oversight. Data goes to authorities and participants, not to the public.
- Industrial internet identifiers: A national identifier resolution system, with top-level nodes and industry nodes, assigns and resolves identifiers for products and parts — comparable in function to a resolvable unique product identifier.
- DPP pilots: National digital product passport pilots and standards work are being discussed; their scope and status should be checked in current official sources before relying on them.
- Data rules: China's data security and cybersecurity laws can limit how product and supplier data is transferred abroad, which matters for Chinese suppliers delivering data to EU passports.
- Technical documentation: Chinese suppliers of EU products may need to provide data for the EU battery passport or other passports in addition to domestic records.
Chinese rules vs. the EU DPP
China's systems are sector-specific, centralized and oriented toward authorities; the EU passport is a decentralized, partly public framework across product groups. See the global comparison.