Regulations & Policy FAQ

Key changes in the new regulation effective May 2026: GS1 Digital Link QR codes explicitly recognized as legal commodity barcode format, annual update of product coding data required, mandatory traceability data association reporting added, increased penalties (unauthorized barcode use fines raised from ¥30K to ¥200K). Direct impact: upgrade product barcodes from 1D to QR (or dual-code) by June 2027, establish barcode-traceability data linkage, ensure barcode data compliance and timely updates. We recommend enterprises initiate barcode compliance projects within 2026.

GS1 has set June 2027 as the final deadline for global retail POS systems to support QR code scanning. China's Article Numbering Center has announced synchronized adoption of this timeline. For China's 650K+ GS1 member enterprises, this means: products launched after June 2027 must use (or at minimum co-display) GS1 Digital Link QR codes, 1D barcodes may remain as compatible identifiers but not as the sole identifier. The preparation window is approximately 16 months, while the normal cycle for production line retrofit + packaging switch is 6–12 months. We strongly recommend initiating in H2 2026.

DPP is a mandatory EU digital product passport requirement — a market access condition for products entering the EU. The first mandatory category is batteries (February 2027), followed by textiles, electronics, toys, construction materials, etc. DPP requires products to carry a QR code/NFC tag that consumers can scan to access full lifecycle data from raw materials to recycling (including carbon footprint, material composition, repairability, etc.). Products not meeting DPP requirements cannot clear EU customs or be placed on the market. We recommend export-oriented enterprises initiate DPP compliance assessment and system development before end of 2026.

The ZhiShuYun system provides one-click audit report generation — select inspection scope and product batches, and the system auto-generates a standardized traceability data report compliant with regulatory requirements (including data integrity declaration and blockchain notarization records). Audit-mode temporary accounts are also supported — read-only access accounts for inspectors with scoped data and time-limited access. The system also records complete operation logs — any traceability data changes are auditable. Under normal circumstances, regulatory inspection data retrieval can be completed within minutes.