China's proposed rules may ban most power banks on flights
What's the story
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has proposed new regulations for portable power banks. The draft, which is open for public feedback until December 11, mandates that all domestically produced power banks disclose their battery type, production date, and recommended safe usage duration. The proposed regulations also demand that a compliant power bank should not catch fire, combust, crack or leak even under short circuit and overuse conditions.
Safety standards
New rules could ban many power banks from flights
The proposal has raised concerns among manufacturers and consumers alike due to its stringent safety requirements. If strictly enforced, these standards could make many existing models fail to meet the safety bar, including those currently permitted on planes. Currently, domestic passengers are allowed to carry only China Compulsory Certification (3C) certified power banks. This rule has already led to the confiscation of popular international models such as Apple's MagSafe battery pack.
Industry response
Producers express concerns over new standards
Producers have expressed concerns that the new standards could redefine what qualifies as a quality power bank, forcing many firms to redesign their products. The China Electronics Standardization Institute has said the rules require dozens of technical improvements and are likely to come into effect by mid-next year. Until then, passengers can continue traveling with their 3C certified power banks.