The Standardization Administration of China has published three plastic bag standards which will be formally enacted on June 1, 2008.

The three standards are the compulsory national standards of the General Specification for Plastic Bag's Environment Protection, Safety and Tags (GB21660-2008) and the recommendatory national standards of Plastic Bag for Shopping (GB/T21661-2008) and Fast Testing Method and Appraisal of Plastic Shopping Bags (GB/T21662-2008).

According to the General Specification for Plastic Bag's Environment Protection, Safety and Tags (GB21660-2008), plastic bags for shopping use must not be less than 0.025 millimeter in thickness and they must contain environment, warning and safety statements, and plastic bags used for food must have such words as "for food use". In addition, the bags should bear such information as names, standard serial numbers, specifications and maximum weight bearing data; the logo on the bags must be marked in striking colors that can not easily fade or fall off and they must be put on the prominent location of the bags with the manufacturers' information.

Plastic Bag for Shopping (GB/T21661-2008) puts forward clear requirements on plastic bags' use. It says that plastic bags must not have bad smells or other poor things that may affect normal use.