Increased supervision of online sales of cables: 8 categories of products must be sold with licenses starting from December
On June 25, 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the List of Key Industrial Products for Online Sales (2026 Edition), comprising 99 product types; wire and cable products accounted for eight distinct categories. The scope of production licensing covers five types—overhead stranded conductors, plastic-insulated control cables, extruded-insulation low-voltage power cables, extruded-insulation medium-voltage power cables, and overhead insulated cables—while the scope of 3C certification covers three types: cord sets (0101), rubber-insulated cables (0104), and PVC-insulated cables (0105). Together, these two regulatory layers encompass the cable varieties with the widest circulation and highest usage volumes on the market.
With implementation set for December 1, 2026, the industry has less than five months to make the necessary compliance adjustments. Regulators have made their stance clear: online sales of industrial products can no longer operate under a “dual-track” system where online and offline standards differ. “Order No. 110” brings online sales under routine regulatory oversight and explicitly mandates joint liability for e-commerce platforms. For cable sellers—whether on Tmall, JD.com, or Douyin—products cannot be listed without complete licenses and certifications, and listings will be removed immediately if these documents expire.
An industry shake-up is underway. Compliance costs are rising, squeezing profit margins for small, informal workshops while creating opportunities for legitimate manufacturers. The Shandong Wire and Cable Industry Association has advised enterprises to promptly verify the product models, standards, and validity periods of their production licenses and 3C certificates, and to proceed with any necessary modifications or scope expansions.
Additionally, the new General Rules for the Implementation of Industrial Product Production Licenses and the implementation rules for 24 specific product categories officially took effect on April 1, 2026. Notably, the Implementation Rules for Wire and Cable Product Production Licenses stipulate that products manufactured according to enterprise standards must apply for licenses based on the corresponding national standards, thereby tightening regulatory controls. In the first quarter of 2026, market regulation authorities nationwide investigated 18,200 cases of product quality violations, imposing fines and confiscations totaling 130 million yuan and referring 46 cases to public security agencies.
