Ministry of Commerce: Improve the consumption of goods during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, better meet consumer demand by trading in old products for new ones.

On February 12, the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce issued a notice on the work of replacing old products with new ones during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday. It mentioned that localities should strengthen the subsidy fund guarantee for replacing old products with new ones during the Spring Festival period, leverage the advantages of different channels, implement policies well, and better meet consumer demand. In response to the customs of the Spring Festival and to add to the festive atmosphere, consumers are encouraged to go out of their homes to shop during the 9-day Spring Festival holiday in 2026 (February 15-23), ensuring that consumers can apply for subsidies for replacing old appliances, digital and smart products through offline channels. Consumers who purchase a new car during the 9-day Spring Festival holiday can also apply for subsidies for replacing old cars as required by the policy. The original text is as follows: Notice of the General Office of the Ministry of Commerce on the work of replacing old products with new ones during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday In order to thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, in accordance with the "Notice of the Ministry of Commerce and other nine units on the issuance of the '2026 'Happy Shopping New Year' Spring Festival special activities plan" (Commerce Consumer Letter [2026] No. 16) and the "Notice of the Ministry of Commerce and other seven departments on implementing the policy of replacing old products with new ones in 2026 to improve quality and efficiency" (Commerce Consumer Letter [2025] No. 697) and other relevant requirements, to ensure that consumers can better enjoy subsidies for replacing old products with new ones during the Spring Festival period, to create the "Shopping in China" brand, the relevant issues are hereby notified as follows: I. Increase the number of subsidies Localities should strengthen the guarantee of subsidy funds for replacing old products with new ones during the Spring Festival, leverage the advantages of different channels, implement policies well, and better meet consumer demand. In response to the customs of the Spring Festival and to add to the festive atmosphere, consumers are encouraged to go out of their homes to shop during the 9-day Spring Festival holiday in 2026 (February 15-23), ensuring that consumers can apply for subsidies for replacing old appliances, digital and smart products through offline channels. Consumers who purchase a new car during the 9-day Spring Festival holiday can also apply for subsidies for replacing old cars as required by the policy. II. Strengthen product supply Localities should guide participants in the policy of replacing old products with new ones, such as car dealers, appliance stores, digital and smart product stores, etc., to prepare sufficient high-quality goods according to the characteristics of the Spring Festival market, ensure adequate operating hours, and guarantee sufficient supply of subsidized goods. It is necessary to ensure the supply of goods in rural areas during the holiday season, increase the participation of offline policy entities in rural areas, promote the focus of online channels on rural areas, facilitate the participation and enjoyment of policies by rural residents. III. Conduct promotions Localities should seize the peak consumption season of the Spring Festival, meet market demand, focus on green and intelligent products, organize special promotional activities for replacing old products with new ones, tailor experience-based consumer scenarios according to local conditions, guide consumers to choose to shop in-store for a better shopping experience and enjoy subsidy benefits. Encourage participating entities such as manufacturing and sales enterprises, financial institutions, and key business districts (pedestrian streets) to introduce supporting measures such as "one-stop" services and cash back rewards, improving the level of convenience for the people. IV. Carry out publicity and promotion Localities should make good use of news releases, government websites, new media platforms, etc., to promote and interpret the policy of replacing old products with new ones during the Spring Festival period through multi-level and multi-channel publicity, create a strong festive atmosphere. Ensure smooth policy consultation and complaint reporting channels, timely response to concerns from all sectors, actively coordinate and resolve difficulties encountered by consumers and business entities. Localities must further strengthen organizational leadership, enhance departmental coordination and linkage, improve implementation mechanisms, upgrade the information system for replacing old products with new ones, carry out duty and monitoring during the holiday season, carefully evaluate the effectiveness of the work, and carry out information platform docking and data exchange between central and local authorities as required. Strictly implement safety production requirements, prevent and investigate fake subsidies, and ensure that all work progresses in an orderly manner and achieves practical results.