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China’s Mandatory E-Lock Standard: What Biometric Anti-Spoofing Rules Mean

China’s mandatory national standard GB 21556.2-2025, titled “Lock Safety Technical Specifications Part 2: Electronic Locks,” was published on September 29, 2024, and took effect on March 1, 2026. The standard was issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and can be accessed through the National Standards Full Text Disclosure System. As smart door locks gain widespread adoption in the Chinese market, this standard establishes clear baseline requirements for biometric security in electronic locks.

Core Safety Requirements

According to the standard text, the new regulation sets explicit anti-spoofing technical requirements for biometric modules in electronic locks:

  • Facial recognition: Must employ 3D structured light or binocular infrared liveness detection technology. Two-dimensional planar recognition methods are prohibited. This requirement aims to prevent spoofing via photographs or video replays. In the past, some lower-priced products used only basic cameras for facial comparison, which could be bypassed with high-resolution photos or screen captures.
  • Fingerprint recognition: Must use semiconductor-based liveness detection and include defenses against AI-generated deepfake forgeries. Traditional optical fingerprint sensors, which struggle to distinguish real from fake fingerprints, no longer meet the standard. As generative AI technology advances, the barrier to fingerprint forgery has decreased, and the standard addresses this proactively.
  • Mechanical lock cylinder: Class C lock cylinders must resist technical picking attempts for no less than 15 minutes, establishing a baseline for physical security. Even when electronic systems fail, the mechanical lock cylinder must provide basic anti-pick protection.

Relevance for Consumers

As a mandatory national standard, electronic lock products sold in the Chinese market must comply with its requirements. Consumers can use this standard as a reference when evaluating the biometric security level of door locks:

  • When selecting a facial recognition lock, verify that the product description specifies “3D structured light” or “binocular infrared” liveness detection, rather than merely stating “facial recognition.” Vague descriptions may indicate the use of 2D methods that the standard has phased out.
  • When choosing a fingerprint lock, look for explicit mention of “semiconductor liveness detection” and avoid older models using only optical fingerprint sensors. Semiconductor sensors outperform traditional optical solutions in both anti-spoofing capability and recognition speed.
  • Understand the basic meaning of Class C lock cylinders as a reference point for mechanical security. The lock cylinder grade represents the last line of physical defense when an electronic lock loses power or malfunctions.

It is important to note that this standard represents Chinese domestic safety design requirements and does not indicate that any specific product has been certified to this standard. For specific specifications and compliance status of products in our smart locks category (30 products), please refer to the product detail pages. Learn more at About Us.

Information current as of September 2026. Please refer to official sources for the latest updates.

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