Government Requests China to Postpone Electric Vehicle Battery Regulation Enforcement by 6 Months

Korea-China 4th FTA Trade Technical Barriers Committee Meeting Held
Export Companies' Difficulties in China Communicated...Seeking Solutions
Requests Regarding Regulations on Infant Formula and Medical Devices Also Delivered

▲Electric Vehicle Battery Production Line

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Our government has requested China to postpone the enforcement date of the electric vehicle battery regulations scheduled for January next year by six months.

The National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the "4th Korea-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Trade Technical Barriers (TBT) Committee" via video conference on the 3rd.

This Korea-China TBT Committee was held to resolve TBT difficulties and discuss cooperation measures in areas such as product safety. TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) refers to trade obstacles that hinder the free movement of goods by applying different technical regulations, standards, certifications, etc., between countries.

On our side, Kim Gyuro, Director of the Technical Regulation Response Bureau at the National Institute of Technology and Standards, and on the Chinese side, Zheng Chunjing, Vice President of the International Cooperation Department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, attended as chief representatives.

At this committee, Korea conveyed the difficulties faced by our companies due to China's excessive technical regulations and sought solutions.

The National Institute of Technology and Standards communicated our government's requests regarding China's revised electric vehicle battery regulations and regulations in the fields of cosmetics, infant formula, and medical devices to the Chinese side.

Regarding the electric vehicle battery regulations scheduled to be enforced in China in January next year, due to delays in testing by Chinese testing institutions caused by the COVID-19 situation, our export companies requested a six-month grace period to allow sufficient preparation.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards stated, "To export new electric vehicle battery products to China, test reports must be issued by January next year, but testing is delayed due to COVID-19, and overseas test reports are not recognized. Domestic export companies are appealing that the enforcement date should be postponed at least until after July next year to breathe easier."

During the meeting, it was requested that electronic document printouts related to cosmetics issued domestically be recognized as originals in China and that the registration procedures for infant formula be expedited. In the medical device sector, it was proposed to improve discriminatory registration fees against foreign companies and to accept internationally accredited test reports.

Both countries shared the current status of mutual systems for consumer product safety and discussed specific cooperation measures such as exchanging recall information. They also agreed to cooperate mutually to manage quality as imports of Chinese herbal medicines increase.

Kim Gyuro, Director of the Technical Regulation Response Bureau, stated, "To minimize the testing and certification difficulties faced by companies in both countries due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we agreed to continue close cooperation with the Chinese side."

He added, "Going forward, we will actively convey export-related difficulties raised by our companies to the Chinese government and negotiate to resolve trade technical barriers between the two countries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.