Group 1 - The first mandatory national standard for the control of harmful substances in electrical and electronic products, GB 26572-2025, has been approved and will be implemented on August 1, 2027 [1] - Harmful substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium are commonly used in electrical and electronic products, creating a path dependency that makes it difficult to switch to alternatives [1] - The significant number of electrical and electronic products in China, such as 780 million air conditioners and 550 million color TVs, highlights the importance of implementing a mandatory national standard to effectively control harmful substances from the source [1] Group 2 - Implementing the mandatory national standard poses challenges, as many industries have previously established standards or regulations that remain ineffective over time [2] - There are over 450,000 home appliance manufacturing enterprises in China, indicating the complexity of enforcing compliance without external intervention [2] - The success of the mandatory national standard will depend on the introduction of effective supporting policies and the establishment of a comprehensive governance mechanism [2]