The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology replied to Ding Lei: it will formulate a national standard to promote the integration and unification of charging interfaces

Type-C interface with perfect function, strong compatibility, positive and negative blind plug and other excellent features are used by more and more electronic products. In addition to smart phones, type-C interface is also widely used in mobile power, notebooks, tablets, true wireless headphones, speakers, razors and other digital devices.

As a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ding Lei also recommended to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: unify the standard port of smart electronic equipment charger, further reduce e-waste and help carbon neutrality.

In this regard, recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology replied to Ding Lei that it will continue to promote the formulation of relevant national standards, promote the integration and unification of charging interfaces and technologies, improve the recycling rate of electrical and electronic products, and strive to promote the high-quality development of the consumer electronics industry.

Here is the full text of the response:

Member Ding Lei:

Your proposal on unifying the standard port of smart electronic equipment charger to further reduce e-waste to help carbon neutrality has been received. The State Administration for Business Administration of Market Regulation hereby replies as follows:

With the rapid iteration of charging/data interface and charging technology, the current intelligent terminal market has formed a pattern dominated by USB-C interface and coexisting with multiple interfaces and charging technologies. As mentioned in the proposal, after the user replaces the device, most of the original chargers and data cables are idle, resulting in huge waste. Vigorously promoting the integration of charging interfaces and technologies is conducive to reducing electronic waste and improving the efficiency of resource utilization.

First, work has been carried out

(1) Strengthen the formulation of technical specifications for terminal equipment charging. Our department attaches great importance to the development of standards related to the charging of intelligent electronic devices. In 2021, two industry standards such as "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Power Adapters and Charging/Data Interfaces of Mobile Communication Terminals" and "Technical Requirements and Test Methods for Fast Charging of Mobile Communication Terminals" were approved and issued to provide standard support for the standardization of charging interfaces for electronic devices.

The State Administration of Market Regulation (Standards Committee) guides the National Electrical Safety Standardization Technical Committee and the National Communications Standardization Technical Committee to organize the development of charger-related standards, and has approved the release of "Lithium Battery Power Charger for Mobile Communication Handheld Machines", "Information Technology Equipment Safety Part 1: General Requirements", "Special Requirements for Home and Similar Use Electrical Appliances Battery Charger Special Requirements", "Multimedia Equipment Safety Guide" and other 4 charger related national standards, from the charger's interface type, performance, In terms of safety, the charger is required to be regulated.

(2) Promote the integration and interoperability of various fast charging technologies. In order to promote the solution of the incompatibility of fast charging technology in various enterprises and improve the consumer experience, our ministry guides the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, industry associations and enterprises in the fields of mobile terminals and chips to formulate two group standards such as "Technical Specifications for Mobile Terminal Fusion Fast Charging" and "Mobile Terminal Fusion Fast Charging Test Method" to create a fast, safe and compatible charging environment for consumers, and reduce the risk and cost of upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to develop universal fast charging power chips and accessories.

At the same time, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standards Committee) organized the pre-research work on the standardization of the compatibility of the fast charging protocol of intelligent devices, fully investigated the standardization needs and technology development trends at home and abroad, and laid the foundation for the subsequent development of relevant national standards.

(3) Promote the recycling of waste electrical appliances and electronics. Our Ministry has issued policy documents such as the Industrial Green Development Plan (2016-2020), the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Renewable Resources Industry, and the 14th Five-Year Plan for Industrial Green Development, focusing on promoting the recycling of waste electrical and electronic products. Select leading backbone enterprises in the industry such as Lenovo and Gree to carry out pilot projects for extending producer responsibility for electrical and electronic products, and explore the establishment of easy-to-replicate and generalizable electrical and electronic recycling business models such as independent recycling, entrusted recycling, and joint construction.

Second, the next step of the work to consider

Our ministry will continue to promote the formulation of relevant national standards, promote the integration and unification of charging interfaces and technologies, improve the recycling rate of electrical and electronic products, and strive to promote the high-quality development of the consumer electronics industry.

The first is to improve the standard system. Jointly with the State Administration of Market Regulation, jointly promote the formulation of relevant national standards, promote the construction of a binary standard system, accelerate the construction of a standard system based on government promulgation and coordinated development of market standards, and give full play to the leading and normative role of charging technology group standards. Based on the current situation and needs of the development of the industry, organize relevant scientific research institutions and upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to jointly carry out the research and development of charging interfaces and technical standards for intelligent terminal equipment. Encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in the formulation of international standards related to unified charging interfaces, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with foreign standardization organizations and enterprises, and promote China's standards to become international standards.

The second is to promote the integration and unification of charging interfaces and technologies. Promote the construction of an industry exchange platform, gather the strength of industry, education, government and research, strengthen collaboration in charging technology innovation, application promotion, etc., and jointly promote the high-quality development of the charging industry. Encourage terminal enterprises to design and produce intelligent terminal equipment with unified interface and compatible fast charging technology, formulate different accessory matching schemes in the terminal sales link, and carry out reasonable pricing, so as to provide consumers with on-demand purchase opportunities and further reduce resource waste.

The third is to strengthen the recycling of electronic and electrical products. Accelerate the formulation and issuance of the "Implementation Plan on Accelerating the Comprehensive Utilization of Industrial Resources", deeply implement the pilot project of extending the responsibility of producers of electrical and electronic products, and strive to improve the recycling rate of electrical and electronic products such as waste chargers.

Thank you for your concern and support for the work of our department, and welcome your valuable comments.

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology

January 6, 2022