China Plans Certification System for Senior-Friendly Products

The Ministry of Commerce and six other departments jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Expansion and Upgrading of Commodity Consumption. The opinions call for strengthening research and development of key technologies and core components, expanding the application of technologies such as brain-computer integration and artificial intelligence in fields including senior-friendly products and rehabilitation aids, and exploring the establishment of a certification system for senior products.

On the supply side for senior products, items such as smart mattresses, health monitoring devices and electric wheelchairs have entered elderly households, the variety of senior-friendly products has increased, and a number of enterprises focused on such products have emerged. On the policy side, supportive measures including subsidies for senior-friendly renovations and pilot programs for long-term care insurance have gradually been implemented. As of September 2026, the senior products market remains at an early stage of development, the standards system is not yet sound, product quality varies, and elderly consumers face difficulties in choosing products and judging their quality.