On December 9, 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), and the General Administration of Customs (GAC) jointly issued a notice to streamline import and export regulatory measures for lithium-thionyl chloride batteries. Based on China’s regulations governing supervised chemicals, controlled chemicals, and dual-use export controls, the authorities decided to optimize oversight requirements for specific lithium-thionyl chloride batteries, with effect from January 1, 2026.
The revised measures apply to individual lithium-thionyl chloride batteries or battery packs containing no more than 1 kg of thionyl chloride (CAS No. 7719-09-7), which is classified as a Schedule 3 controlled chemical.
Key change: Removal of very low-risk products from control lists These batteries and battery packs contain only small amounts of thionyl chloride and are structurally difficult to dismantle, making reverse extraction impractical and posing an extremely low proliferation risk. As a result, they will no longer be regulated under the Regulation on the Administration of Chemicals Subject to Supervision and Control or included in the List of Schedules of Controlled Chemicals. They will also be removed from the chemicals category of China’s Export Control List of Dual-Use Items. Accordingly, their import and export will no longer require an Import/Export Approval Certificate for Chemicals Subject to Supervision and Control or a Dual-Use Items and Technologies Import and Export License.
For customs declarations, the exact amount of thionyl chloride contained in each individual battery or battery pack must be accurately stated in the “Specification & Model” field of the declaration form.
Other applicable situations
· Batteries that require import or export approvals under other regulatory frameworks must continue to comply with the relevant requirements.
· Lithium-thionyl chloride batteries or battery packs outside the defined scope will remain subject to existing regulations, including the chemicals supervision and dual-use export control regimes, and will continue to require the appropriate approvals and licenses.
To support effective implementation, authorities have established a feedback mechanism requiring any execution-related issues to be reported to the National Office for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, MOFCOM’s Bureau of Industry Security and Import and Export Control, and GAC’s Comprehensive Affairs Department. This will allow for timely adjustments based on practical experience.
Overall, the policy is intended to enable more precise and risk-based regulation of low-risk products, while safeguarding national security and fulfilling international obligations, and is expected to facilitate international trade in relevant battery products.
