China will relax export and import controls on certain lithium thionyl chloride batteries from Jan. 1, 2026, under a joint notice issued on Friday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs.
The policy change applies to individual batteries or battery packs containing no more than 1 kilogram of thionyl chloride, a chemical currently listed under China’s controlled substances regulations.
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Authorities said such products pose limited risk because the chemical content is small and difficult to extract, reducing the likelihood of misuse.
Under the revised rules, the affected batteries will no longer be classified as controlled chemicals or dual-use items. As a result, companies will not be required to obtain chemical control or dual-use import and export licences when making customs declarations.
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However, exporters and importers must still accurately declare the thionyl chloride content in customs documentation, the notice said, adding that compliance requirements will remain in place to ensure transparency in cross-border trade.
