China aims for tire labelling laws by 2019

Qingdao, China – Deputies of the National People’s Congress have proposed the tire labelling bill during this year’s session, and China is aiming for the introduction of such laws by 2019, according to Zhu Hong, director of the Technical and Economic Committee at China Rubber Industry Association.

Conditions in China’s tire industry have ripened over the past three years, and the country has established seven reference labs for rolling resistance and several third party proving grounds – the CATARC proving ground in Yancheng, Jiangsu has been approved by EU standards, Zhu said during her speech at the 2016 China Rubber Conference in Qingdao this March.

The timeline is expected by CRIA as follows: Across-the-board voluntary measures will continue until 2016 year end. By 2017 tires made or sold within the year will mandatorily provide fuel efficiency, wet grip and rolling noise grades, but labelling is still voluntary. From 2018 on tires made or sold within the year will be mandatorily required to provide such grades as well as meet the performance threshold.

“The nucleus of tire labelling is the promotion of green tires,” Zhu added. The standards will start with passenger car tires and then move on to tires for heavier vehicles. Regulators will borrow the EU standards if relevant domestic standards are yet to be formed.

Cinaralp, however, went on to highlight concerns on surveillance and enforcement especially regarding online sales based on the European experience.