BEIJING – China has introduced two mandatory national standards for photovoltaic modules, a move widely seen as a significant step toward accelerating the elimination of outdated production capacity while enhancing product safety and market transparency.
The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China on May 25 jointly approved the publication of the new standards, which include the "Safety Requirements for Photovoltaic Modules" and the "Nameplate and Labeling Requirements for Photovoltaic Modules." Both standards, proposed and centralized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, will officially take effect on June 1, 2027, following a 12-month transitional period.
The "Safety Requirement for Photovoltaic Module" contains extensive sections on Electrical Safety, Mechanical safety, Fire Safety, Toxic substances with testing methods. A standard for Electrical Safety describes Electrical Protection and Insulation Requirements, and has regulations for requirements for the raw materials and components used. The standard also includes a Fire Safety section, providing fire resistance ratings and combustible performance of PV modules, and has stringent requirements for the flame retardancy of the components in PV modules in order to help limit the risk of fire associated with PV modules at multiple levels. The Quality Assurance section of this standard is also intended to provide for the elimination of quality issues that have occurred in the PV Industry, and to provide for the elimination of leakage of hazardous substances from PV modules into the environment or to human beings. The Fining Agent Process for arsenic used in the production of PV module glass will limit the amount of arsenic to no more than 50 ppm in the glass.
The "Nameplate and Labeling Requirements for Photovoltaic Modules" addresses persistent issues such as power rating misrepresentation - a growing problem in China's PV sector. The standard specifies basic nameplate requirements, labeling content, and electrical performance parameter disclosure guidelines. It explicitly defines tolerance ranges and validation methods for nominal power, nominal short-circuit current, and nominal open-circuit voltage, requiring that any deviation between nameplate values and measured values shall not exceed the prescribed tolerance limits or ±2 percent. By establishing mandatory labeling norms and testing protocols, the standard ensures that performance data for each module remains verifiable and traceable throughout its lifecycle, effectively curbing false advertising and cutthroat competition based on low-quality products at low prices, while fostering a market ecosystem where quality commands premium pricing.
There has been incredible growth in China's photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry over the last 20 years and it is now the world's leading manufacturer of all aspects (vertical and horizontal) of the value chain associated with PV electricity generation. At the close of 2025, the cumulative amount of PV that was installed across all of China was 1,200,000,000 kW which represents a 35% increase over the prior year. The new additions to PV capacity for the year 2025 compared to the year before was 317 GW or an increase of 14%. For the first three months of 2026, China added 41.19 GW of new PV capacity, which brought the cumulative amount of PV that China has installed to over 1,240,000,000 kW. In 2025, China exported 267.1 GW of PV modules overseas which was an increase of 6.4% over last year. The total amount of PV cell and module exports combined for 2025 was approximately 383.3 GW which is an increase of 23.7% over the amount exported in 2024.
However, rapid expansion has come at a cost. The industry has experienced periodic supply-demand imbalances and intensifying "involution" or cutthroat competition. Some manufacturers, prioritizing short-term gains over quality, have loosened quality control and standardized requirements, leading to a proliferation of inferior, low-quality modules and power rating misrepresentations. This has undermined market order domestically and tarnished the reputation of Chinese PV products overseas.
Industry experts and regulators have been clear about the intended impact of the new mandatory standards.
"All relevant indicators in the two mandatory national standards have undergone comprehensive experimental validation and data research, establishing a solid scientific foundation," said Yu Xiuming, Vice President of the China Electronics Standardization Institute. "The introduction of these standards will effectively reduce accident risks, ensure that nameplate information remains verifiable and traceable throughout the supply chain, and decisively eliminate the practice of artificially misrepresenting power ratings." Yu added that the move will accelerate the elimination of outdated production capacity, compel companies to focus on technological innovation and quality improvement, and facilitate the strategic transformation of China's PV industry from "scale leadership" to "value leadership".
Analysts at China Merchants Securities noted that the new standards align with a broader push to tackle overcapacity through regulatory tightening. In 2025, industry-wide capacity data for cell and module segments remained in significant surplus, with over 30 percent of outdated capacity expected to face accelerated exit as the new regulations take effect.
Liu Yiyang, Executive Secretary-General of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, highlighted the standards' international dimension. "Both mandatory national standards were developed with full alignment to advanced international benchmarks," Liu said. "While safeguarding the international brand image of 'Made in China' products, they will strongly promote the global adoption of Chinese PV standards, consolidating and enhancing the industry's global core competitiveness". Experts also see the standards as critical for combating power rating misrepresentation - a growing problem in recent years driven by the rapid expansion of n-type cell technology - which has damaged China's PV reputation in overseas markets.
Manufacturers have a year-long transition to complete testing, certifying products, and clearing stock. To continue supporting Chinese PV industry's regulated marketplace and working to transform and upgrade to higher quality, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is working closely with other relevant departments.
As China's solar industry is being increasingly impacted by overproduction and global competition, the new mandatory standards offer an opportunity for the industry to have increased visibility through the establishment of standards providing a clear regulatory framework for the industry and setting benchmarks at a higher quality level than previously being achieved for products produced in China. The establishment of these mandatory standards will provide a competitive edge for the PV products manufactured in China in the global marketplace.
