---
title: "When can a company use the China standard contract route?"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-can-a-company-use-the-china-standard-contract-route"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-can-a-company-use-the-china-standard-contract-route"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Use China's standard contract route only after applying the 2024 exemptions and confirming that no CAC security assessment is required. See current thresholds, filing steps, and change triggers."
published_at: "2026-07-05"
updated_at: "2026-07-24"
keywords:
  - "China PIPL"
  - "Personal Information Protection Law"
  - "Data export"
  - "Standard contract"
  - "App privacy"
---
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---

# When can a company use the China standard contract route?

Use China's standard contract route only after applying the 2024 exemptions and confirming that no CAC security assessment is required. See current thresholds, filing steps, and change triggers.

*Question* *China*

## When can a company use the China standard contract route? Direct answer

Under the 2024 CAC provisions, a non-CIIO must use the standard contract or personal-information protection certification for specified mid-range exports, unless an exemption applies. Important data and higher-volume exports require a security assessment instead.

Count exports from January 1 of the current year, separate sensitive from other personal information, and document the exemption and route analysis before transfer.

The standard-contract measures took effect on June 1, 2023, and the CAC's March 22, 2024 provisions now control where the rules conflict. A non-CIIO can use the standard contract route for a personal-information export that is not exempt and does not require a CAC security assessment. The standard contract or certification is required when, from January 1 of the current year, the exporter provides personal information of at least 100,000 but fewer than 1 million individuals excluding sensitive personal information, or any sensitive personal information involving fewer than 10,000 individuals.

## Definitions

### China personal information export standard contract route

**Term:** standard contract route

The standard contract route is one PIPL mechanism for providing personal information outside China. An eligible personal information processor signs the CAC's prescribed contract with the overseas recipient, completes a prior PIPIA, starts the export only after the contract takes effect, and files the contract and PIPIA report with the provincial CAC within 10 working days.

**Why it matters here:** The standard contract is not the required transfer mechanism where a current exemption applies, and it cannot replace a CAC security assessment where that assessment is triggered. Under the 2024 provisions, eligible mid-range exports may use either the standard contract or personal-information protection certification.

Sources:

- [Measures for the Standard Contract for Personal Information Export, Articles 2 and 5-8](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2023-02/24/c_1678884830036813.htm?ref=sorena.io)
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow, Articles 5-8 and 13](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io)

## Apply the routing tests in order

First decide whether the activity provides data outside China and whether that data contains personal information or important data. Then apply the 2024 exemptions. Next determine whether the exporter is a critical information infrastructure operator (CIIO), whether important data is involved, and how many individuals' non-sensitive and sensitive personal information has been exported since January 1.

A CIIO exporting personal information or important data must use the security-assessment route. A non-CIIO must also use that route for important data, personal information of at least 1 million individuals excluding sensitive personal information, or sensitive personal information of at least 10,000 individuals. For a non-CIIO, Article 8 places exports from 100,000 to under 1 million individuals excluding sensitive personal information, and exports involving any sensitive personal information below 10,000 individuals, in the standard-contract-or-certification band unless an exemption controls.

- No personal information or important data: specified international-trade, cross-border transport, academic-cooperation, transnational-production, and marketing data can be exempt from all three CAC transfer mechanisms.
- Overseas-origin information: personal information collected outside China, processed in China, and sent out again is exempt if no personal information or important data collected or generated in China is introduced during processing.
- Necessary individual contract, qualifying cross-border HR management, or emergency: these exports can be exempt when every stated condition is met and no important data is included.
- Low-volume non-sensitive export: a non-CIIO exporting personal information of fewer than 100,000 individuals since January 1 is exempt only for the count excluding sensitive personal information. Sensitive information requires its own route analysis.
- Free-trade-zone rule: a qualifying exporter in a pilot free-trade zone may rely on the approved negative-list framework for data outside that list.

Sources for this answer:

- [Measures for the Standard Contract for Personal Information Export](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2023-02/24/c_1678884830036813.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 5-8 govern the export PIPIA, prescribed contract, effective-before-export rule, filing deadline, and reassessment and re-filing triggers.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 3-8 provide the current exemptions and route thresholds. Article 13 makes these provisions control where they conflict with the older standard-contract measures.

## Complete the contract, assessment, and filing

Complete the export PIPIA before the transfer. It should examine the legality, legitimacy, and necessity of both parties' processing; the exported information's scale, scope, categories, and sensitivity; risks to individuals; the overseas recipient's commitments, measures, and capability; the availability of rights channels; and the effect of the recipient country's or region's law on performance.

Use the CAC contract in the form attached to the measures. Additional terms are allowed only if they do not conflict with it. The contract must take effect before the export begins. File the effective contract and PIPIA report with the provincial CAC within 10 working days after effectiveness; filing is not described as an approval of the export.

- Route record: exporter and recipient, CIIO status, important-data conclusion, count period, non-sensitive count, sensitive count, exemption analysis, and selected route.
- PIPIA: source data, purposes, methods, locations, retention, onward transfers, rights channels, recipient controls, local-law analysis, risks, and safeguards.
- Contract file: prescribed contract, any non-conflicting additions, signatures, effective date, scope matching the PIPIA, and the date export began.
- Filing evidence: contract, PIPIA report, submission date, provincial CAC destination, receipt or other available evidence, and confirmation that the filed materials were accurate.
- Reassessment: repeat the PIPIA, supplement or replace the contract, and complete the corresponding filing when specified purposes, scope, categories, sensitivity, methods, storage location, overseas use, retention, foreign law, or another rights-affecting fact changes.

Sources for this answer:

- [Measures for the Standard Contract for Personal Information Export](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2023-02/24/c_1678884830036813.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 5-8 support the required PIPIA topics, prescribed contract, timing, filing materials, truthfulness duty, and change process.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Articles 7-8 confirm that a higher trigger requires security assessment and that eligible mid-range exports may use the standard contract or certification.

## Primary sources

- [Measures for the Standard Contract for Personal Information Export](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2023-02/24/c_1678884830036813.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Binding source for the CAC standard contract, export PIPIA, effective-before-export rule, 10-working-day provincial filing, accuracy responsibility, and reassessment and re-filing triggers.
- [Provisions on Promoting and Regulating Cross-border Data Flow](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2024-03/22/c_1712776611775634.htm?ref=sorena.io) - Current binding source for cross-border exemptions, standard-contract or certification thresholds, security-assessment thresholds, three-year assessment validity, and priority over inconsistent older rules; effective 22 March 2024.

## Topic Guides

- [App minimum necessary personal information by category](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/app-minimum-necessary-personal-information-by-category.md): App category mapping page for common mobile app necessary personal information scope, using only categories supported by the official source.
- [China app personal information minimization](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/app-personal-information-minimization.md): How to map app category, basic functions, and necessary personal information under China mobile app personal-information rules.
- [China data export security assessment workflow](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/data-export-security-assessment-workflow.md): Workflow for screening data export security assessment triggers, materials, owners, and evidence records.
- [China personal information cross-border transfer routes](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/cross-border-transfer-routes.md): Compare China's current data-export exemptions, CAC security assessment, standard contract, and personal information protection certification routes.
- [China personal information standard contract filing workflow](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/standard-contract-filing-workflow.md): Workflow for the PIPL standard contract route, assessment, filing package, and cited evidence.
- [China PIPL compliance checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/checklist.md): China PIPL compliance checklist covering scope, processing bases, notices, sensitive information, rights, vendors, impact assessments, incidents, and exports.
- [China PIPL deadlines and compliance calendar](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): Calendar China PIPL effective dates, recurring audits, privacy-officer reporting, impact-assessment retention, and data export filing and renewal deadlines.
- [China PIPL penalties and enforcement exposure](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/penalties-and-fines.md): Understand PIPL corrective orders, serious-violation fines, responsible-person exposure, civil claims, public-interest actions, and data export enforcement.
- [China PIPL privacy notice and consent checklist](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/privacy-policy-and-consent-checklist.md): China PIPL checklist for privacy notices, valid consent, separate consent, sensitive information, children under 14, withdrawal, and rights requests.
- [China PIPL requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/requirements.md): China PIPL requirements from scope and processing basis through notices, rights, security, impact assessments, incidents, vendors, and data exports.
- [China PIPL vs CCPA/CPRA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-pipl-vs-ccpa-cpra.md): Compare PIPL and CCPA/CPRA scope, consent and opt-out rules, rights, assessments, data exports, breach duties, and penalties.
- [China PIPL vs EU GDPR: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-gdpr.md): Compare PIPL and GDPR scope, roles, legal bases, rights, impact assessments, breach deadlines, international transfers, and penalties.
- [China PIPL vs Singapore PDPA: Requirements Compared](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/china-privacy-law-vs-singapore-pdpa.md): Compare PIPL and Singapore PDPA scope, roles, consent alternatives, rights, breach duties, overseas transfers, and penalties.
- [China Privacy Law FAQ](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq.md): Practical answers on China's PIPL: scope, legal bases, sensitive information, separate consent, vendors, PIPIA records, app minimization, and export routes.
- [How should vendor contracts handle entrusted processing under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/how-should-vendor-contracts-handle-entrusted-processing.md): A PIPL entrusted-processing contract must define the purpose, duration, method, personal-information categories, safeguards, and both parties' duties. See the required terms and supporting records.
- [Is PIPL the same as GDPR?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/is-pipl-the-same-as-gdpr.md): No. China's PIPL and the EU GDPR overlap on core privacy controls, but differ in territorial scope, legal bases, roles, sensitive data, impact assessments, and transfer routes.
- [PIPL automated decision-making and personalized recommendations](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/automated-decision-making-and-personalized-recommendations.md): PIPL checks for automated decisions, personalized recommendations, marketing, differential treatment, explanations, refusal rights, and impact assessments.
- [PIPL breach response and notification](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/breach-response-and-notification.md): PIPL incident workflow for immediate remediation, authority and individual notices, the narrow individual-notice exception, vendor coordination, and evidence.
- [PIPL cross-border transfer route selector](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/pipl-cross-border-transfer-route-selector.md): Step-by-step selector for China's data-export exemptions, CAC security assessment, standard contract, and personal information protection certification.
- [PIPL entrusted processing and vendor contracts](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/entrusted-processing-and-vendor-contracts.md): How to document entrusted processing, vendor responsibilities, contract controls, and evidence under PIPL.
- [PIPL impact assessment template](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/personal-information-protection-impact-assessment-template.md): Template fields for a China personal information protection impact assessment and export/entrusted-processing evidence.
- [Sensitive personal information and separate consent under PIPL](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/sensitive-personal-information-and-separate-consent.md): How to identify sensitive PI triggers, separate consent, minors, additional safeguards, and evidence records.
- [What counts as sensitive personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-counts-as-sensitive-personal-information-in-china.md): PIPL uses a harm-based test for sensitive personal information and lists examples such as biometrics, health, financial accounts, location traces, and all personal information of children under 14.
- [What is separate consent under PIPL?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-is-separate-consent-under-pipl.md): Separate consent under China's PIPL is a distinct consent for a specified processing activity. See when it applies, what notice must come first, and what evidence to keep.
- [What records should we keep for a PIPL impact assessment?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-records-should-we-keep-for-a-pipl-impact-assessment.md): A PIPL impact-assessment file should preserve the Article 55 trigger, processing facts, Article 56 analysis, safeguards, decision, and processing record for at least three years.
- [What should an app collect as necessary personal information in China?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/what-should-an-app-collect-as-necessary-personal-information.md): Match the app's basic function to China's 2021 rules and collect no more than the listed necessary personal information. Users must retain the basic function if they decline non-necessary data.
- [When does a China PIPL security assessment apply?](/artifacts/apac/china-privacy-law/faq/when-does-a-china-pipl-security-assessment-apply.md): A CAC data export security assessment applies to CIIO exports, important data, and specified high-volume personal-information exports after the 2024 exemptions are applied.

*Operationalize the requirement*

*Placement: Before primary sources*

## Prepare the PIPL and data export evidence file

Sorena AI helps turn the answer to "When can a company use the China standard contract route?" into assigned controls and retained evidence.

- [Map official sources to evidence](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Research Copilot connects the official citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history.
- [Review the China route](/contact.md): Check the China Privacy Law scope decision and unresolved launch questions with Sorena.


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