Inspection and testing serve as the "quality benchmark" for the market economy and the "technical arbiter" for industrial upgrading; crucially, they act as a vital line of defense safeguarding public health, safety, and well-being. The authenticity and impartiality of testing data have a direct bearing on product quality and safety, fair market order, and the public interest. Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), in conjunction with seven other departments-including the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the National Medical Products Administration-issued a *Notice on Organizing and Conducting Nationwide Random Inspections of Inspection and Testing Agencies for 2026* (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). This document comprehensively outlines the nationwide "double random, one public disclosure" inspection campaign for 2026, thereby solidifying the quality foundation for high-quality economic and social development.
The inspection and testing industry spans the entire chain of production, distribution, and consumption, covering key areas related to public well-being and core industrial sectors-such as the ecological environment, medical devices, food and pharmaceuticals, motor vehicle safety, construction materials, and new energy products. For a long time, however, a minority of inspection and testing agencies have engaged in irregularities-including data falsification, non-standardized procedures, failure to meet qualification requirements, and opaque subcontracting-leading to fraudulent testing and certification. These practices not only disrupt fair market competition and facilitate the entry of substandard products into the market but also harbor hidden risks to public safety, thereby harming the public's vital interests and undermining the industry's credibility. Consequently, implementing regular, institutionalized, and targeted supervision and regulation has become essential for standardizing industry development and mitigating safety risks.
Compared to regulatory measures in previous years, the supervisory inspection program for 2026 is characterized by targeted focus, comprehensive coverage, and a clear hierarchical structure. At the national level, the plan involves inspecting 120 testing and inspection agencies-comprising 100 with national-level accreditation and 20 with provincial-level accreditation-thereby ensuring full coverage of both central and local entities and eliminating regulatory blind spots. Regarding the scope of inspections, regulators have precisely identified key areas marked by high risk, significant public concern, and major social impact. Priority is given to sectors vital to public safety and well-being, such as environmental monitoring, greenhouse gas emission testing, motor vehicle safety inspections, water quality monitoring, import/export commodity inspection, and the testing of medical devices and food products. Simultaneously, targeted inspections are being conducted in areas of high consumer interest and emerging industries-including jewelry, indoor air quality testing, hazardous chemicals, children's products, products for the elderly, and photovoltaic new energy-ensuring a precise, strategic layout that guarantees regulatory oversight keeps pace with wherever risks arise.
This regulatory framework establishes a multi-dimensional governance structure-combining national spot checks, coordinated local actions, and institutional self-inspections-to firmly anchor regulatory responsibilities at every level and ensure compliance pressure is effectively transmitted. The *Notice* explicitly requires provincial regulatory authorities to conduct localized spot checks in high-risk and high-profile areas, tailored to local industrial characteristics and public needs. It mandates strict adherence to the "double random, one public disclosure" mechanism-whereby inspection targets and inspectors are selected randomly and the entire process and results are made public-thereby leveraging transparency to create a strong regulatory deterrent and eliminating regulatory blind spots and selective enforcement. Simultaneously, the framework emphasizes the primary responsibility of inspection and testing agencies by defining a core checklist for self-inspection and rectification. Agencies are required to conduct comprehensive risk assessments across key areas-such as compliant operations, personnel and equipment allocation, testing procedures, data authenticity, and management system performance-and to proactively rectify issues. This approach aims to eliminate practices like falsified testing and procedural violations at the source, driving the industry's transition from "passive regulation" to "proactive compliance."
Notably, this year's regulatory efforts have deeply integrated digital and intelligent governance concepts, continuously driving the evolution and upgrading of regulatory models. The *Notice* proposes innovative approaches-including smart regulation, credit-based regulation, and collaborative oversight-that leverage modern technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence. By deepening the application of credit risk classification results and implementing differentiated, precision-oriented oversight, alongside cross-regional inspections that break down geographical barriers, a new regulatory system characterized by integration, refinement, and normalized operation is being established. This initiative effectively resolves long-standing challenges associated with traditional regulation-such as limited manpower, delayed verification, and geographical constraints-by using technology to boost regulatory efficiency and credit-based classification to enable targeted interventions, thereby ensuring that regulation is not only forceful but also precise and responsive to actual needs.
The credibility of the inspection and testing sector serves as a cornerstone for building a nation strong in quality, while a regulated and orderly industry ensures the healthy functioning of the market economy. Conducting annual supervisory spot checks through inter-agency collaboration is not only a practical measure to rectify industry irregularities and mitigate quality and safety risks, but also a long-term strategic move to refine the modern market regulatory system, optimize the business environment, and safeguard high-quality development. Through rigorous, precise, and smart regulation implemented on a regular basis, the inspection and testing market can be continuously purified; this compels the industry to improve quality and efficiency, guides testing institutions to uphold the fundamental principles of objectivity, impartiality, integrity, and legal compliance, and drives the continuous enhancement of service quality and professional capabilities.
Industry insiders state that as regulatory measures are fully implemented and refined, the inspection and testing sector will rapidly move away from extensive growth models. It will transition into a new phase of high-quality development characterized by standardization, specialization, and smart technologies-delivering precise, authentic, and reliable services to safeguard public safety, drive industrial upgrading, and support the national strategy of building a strong nation through quality.
