CCC certification for the Chinese market: requirements, procedure and market entry. Anyone exporting products to China must check at an early stage whether CCC certification is required. The abbreviation CCC stands for China Compulsory Certification and refers to the Chinese mandatory certification system for certain product groups. The term “3C certification” is also frequently used.
Whether a product is subject to the CCC system depends on the applicable product catalogue, the technical scope definitions and the respective implementation rules. CE marking or an EAC certificate does not replace the Chinese procedure.
For manufacturers and exporters, preparation therefore begins with a specific question: Is the product, in its intended configuration and use, subject to mandatory CCC requirements?
What is CCC certification?
CCC certification demonstrates that a product within its scope meets the prescribed Chinese requirements. Depending on the product group, these concern, for example, electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility or other safety‑related characteristics.
In third‑party certification, a certification body designated for this purpose assesses the required evidence. Depending on the applicable rules, the procedure includes product testing, assessment of manufacturing and subsequent surveillance.
For certain products listed in the catalogue, a regulated self‑declaration procedure is provided instead. However, this may only be used if it is actually permitted for the product group concerned. There is no free choice between certification and self‑declaration.
Which products require CCC certification?
Mandatory CCC requirements do not apply across the board to all goods supplied to China. The determining factors are the product types covered and their technical definitions.
Examples of areas covered by the CCC system include:
- Electrical wires and cables
- Certain electrical switching and protective devices
- Certain electric motors
- Power tools
- Welding equipment
- Household appliances
- Electronic equipment
- Lighting products
- Vehicles and certain vehicle components
- Certain batteries and chargers
This overview does not replace a case‑by‑case assessment. Within a product group, technical limits, intended uses or exemptions may be decisive. The CNCA publishes the product catalogue and the associated implementation rules for this purpose.
For a reliable classification, it is recommended that the following information be compiled:
- Product designation and model overview
- Technical data sheet
- Functional description and intended use
- Electrical and mechanical specifications
- Product photos and nameplate
- Details on separate supply or incorporation
- Intended customs tariff code
The customs tariff code supports the assessment. However, it should not be used in isolation as evidence of whether or not CCC certification is mandatory.
Who is responsible for CCC certification?
Several bodies perform different tasks within the Chinese system.
Body | Task |
|---|---|
SAMR | State market regulation authority with responsibilities for product surveillance and certification |
CNCA | Administration responsible for certification and accreditation, including CCC rules and designations |
Designated certification bodies | Conducting certification within their approved scope of activities |
Designated testing laboratories | Conducting the specified product tests |
Market surveillance and customs authorities | Checking compliance with requirements on the market or at import |
For a specific project, the certification body and testing laboratory must be suitable for the relevant product area and designated with the required scope. A general offer of testing services or accreditation alone does not establish authorization for the relevant CCC procedure.
Current change: Transition from self‑declaration to third‑party certification
Manufacturers must currently observe an important transitional provision: China is moving 16 product types from CCC self‑declaration to third‑party certification. The affected products include certain fuse‑links, small‑power motors, power tools, welding equipment and vehicle safety components.
The key dates are:
Date | Significance |
|---|---|
Since 1 July 2026 | Designated bodies accept certification applications for the affected products; new self‑declarations for these products are no longer accepted or generated |
By 31 December 2026 | Affected companies must complete the mandatory transition to CCC certificates |
From 1 January 2027 | A CCC certificate and CCC marking are generally required for the products covered; the corresponding self‑declarations will be revoked |
The announcement provides a special provision for continued sales of products that have already left the factory while their self‑declaration was valid and are no longer being produced.
An existing self‑declaration with a later nominal expiry date therefore does not provide protection against an earlier statutory transition requirement. The specific transitional provision is decisive.
CCC certificate or CCC self‑declaration?
Certification by a designated body: In third‑party certification, the responsible certification body verifies compliance with the prescribed requirements and decides whether to issue the certificate. The general and product‑specific rules determine which tests, factory inspections and surveillance measures are required. New implementation rules have been published for the product types undergoing the transition in 2026.
Regulated CCC self‑declaration: The self‑declaration procedure is not a simple manufacturer's confirmation without technical evidence. It includes, among other things, the prescribed conformity assessment, technical documentation and submission of information to the relevant system. The CNCA overview updated in August 2026 continues to list two product types for self‑declaration procedure B: certain low‑voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies and motor‑compressors. The precise technical scope remains decisive.
Procedure B provides for type testing by a laboratory designated for the relevant CCC scope. For foreign manufacturers, a duly authorised company registered in China performs the prescribed tasks within the self‑declaration system.
Which standards apply to CCC certification?
The technical assessment is based on the Chinese standards specified in the respective implementation rules. These are frequently national standards designated GB or GB/T.
The following points should be documented for project planning:
- Applicable implementation rule
- Prescribed testing standards
- Applicable editions of standards
- Technical deviations from existing testing specifications
- Transition periods for changes to standards
Testing in accordance with an international IEC standard is not automatically equivalent to complete evidence of compliance with Chinese requirements. Existing test reports should therefore be reviewed for usability before the project begins. Whether results can be accepted or additional testing is required must be clarified with the responsible body on the basis of the applicable rules.
CCC certification process
- Determine the product scope and certification units: First, the models and variants concerned are recorded. It is then assessed which configurations can be evaluated together. Differences in power, design, materials or safety‑related components may require additional testing or separate certification units.
- Identify the applicant, manufacturer and production site: The roles of the companies involved must be clearly documented. The applicant, manufacturer and actual manufacturing site may be different companies. Particularly in OEM and ODM arrangements, responsibilities, brand use and access to technical documentation should be clarified at an early stage.
- Prepare application documents: The documents must describe the product and manufacturing processes clearly and comprehensibly. Incomplete model lists or inconsistent company addresses frequently lead to requests for clarification.
- Agree on and provide test samples: The number, configuration and shipment of test samples should be agreed in advance with the responsible body. The samples must represent the product configuration to be certified. A fixed sample quantity for all CCC projects is not appropriate.
- Conduct product testing: The prescribed examinations are carried out in accordance with the applicable standards and rules. If deviations are identified, they must be assessed and, where necessary, resolved through product modifications and additional testing.
- Factory inspection and certification decision: Where required, manufacturing is assessed. Following a successful review of the required results, the certification body decides whether to issue the certificate. The precise sequence and arrangements depend on the respective certification model. The current product‑specific rules are decisive.
What is checked during the factory inspection?
The factory inspection examines, in particular, whether the manufacturer can consistently manufacture products that conform to the tested configuration.
The focus is on:
- Manufacturing quality assurance
- Consistency between the series‑production product and the test sample
- Control of safety‑related components
- Performance of prescribed tests
- Handling deviations and product modifications
- Use of the marking
Where several sites are involved, the inspection scope must be carefully defined. Under the general rules, sites where routine testing is performed and nameplates and CCC markings are affixed are particularly relevant. An ISO‑9001 certificate can document the existing organisational arrangements. However, it does not replace the prescribed CCC‑specific assessment of manufacturing and product consistency.
Which documents should manufacturers prepare?
A structured dossier is recommended for the initial project assessment:
- Product catalogue or technical data sheets
- Complete overview of models and variants
- Drawings and circuit diagrams
- Bills of materials and details of critical components
- Material information, where relevant
- Existing test reports and certificates
- Product photos and draft nameplates
- Operating instructions and safety information
- Company details of the firms involved
- Addresses of manufacturing sites
- Description of manufacturing and testing processes
- Details of existing CCC certificates or self‑declarations
The final list of documents is determined on a product‑specific basis. Requirements for Chinese‑language versions must also be clarified as part of the project.
CCC marking and traceability
The CCC marking may only be used if the applicable conditions are met. It must correspond to the product actually covered and its valid proof of conformity. Current special provisions must also be observed: marking with a CCC traceability QR code has been introduced for certain pilot product groups, including power banks, gas appliances and electric bicycles.
For newly certified products within this pilot scope, the corresponding requirements have applied since 1 March 2026. This provision must not be applied indiscriminately to all CCC products. Before labels and packaging are approved, it is therefore advisable to check the marking requirements applicable to the specific product.
Surveillance and changes after certification
The manufacturer's responsibility does not end when the certificate is issued. Ongoing production must continue to conform to the assessed configuration.
Particularly relevant are changes to:
- Safety‑critical components
- Materials and suppliers
- Design and manufacturing processes
- Model designations and product scope
- Manufacturing sites
Changes should be reviewed for their potential impact on certification before implementation. Depending on their scope, a document assessment, additional testing or a further factory inspection may be required. The current certificate status must be checked even if the expiry date has not yet been reached. Suspension or withdrawal may prevent further use of the proof of conformity.
Can CE, EAC or international test reports be used?
A CE marking, an EAC certificate or an existing international test report does not replace mandatory CCC proof of conformity. However, these documents can facilitate project preparation. For example, they provide information on tested components, technical characteristics and risks already examined.
Before use, the following should be checked:
- Does the report cover the exact model intended?
- Does the tested configuration correspond to current series production?
- Does the testing basis cover the Chinese requirements?
- Does the specific procedure provide for acceptance of the results?
- What additional testing is required?
A cost calculation should only assume reuse once its permissibility has been clarified.
Are there exemptions from the CCC requirement?
Exemptions may be applied for for certain legally defined purposes. Subject to the applicable conditions, these may include, for example, goods for research, testing or certain operational uses. A small quantity or the designation “sample” alone does not establish grounds for an exemption.
Before shipment, it must be clarified whether the specific case is covered, what supporting evidence is needed and whether approval from the authorities is required. A purpose‑specific exemption is not a general authorization to market the product.
Practical example: CCC transition for an electric motor
A German manufacturer supplies a low‑power motor to China. A CCC self‑declaration exists for the version concerned. Further deliveries are planned for 2027. The first step is to check whether the model falls within the product definition covered by the current transition. The scope of the existing declaration, the test reports and the actual series‑production version are then compared.
The following questions in particular must be clarified during the project:
- Which models must be included in the new certificate?
- Can existing assessment results be taken into account?
- Have components or manufacturing conditions changed?
- Which tests and inspections are still required?
- By when must the transition be completed for the planned deliveries?
For affected products, referring to the previous self‑declaration is not sufficient. The transition must be completed within the prescribed deadline. This example is illustrative and does not describe a specific client project.
Costs and duration of CCC certification
The costs depend on the actual scope of the project. Key factors are:
- Product group and testing requirements
- Number of models and certification units
- Number and location of production sites
- Required test samples
- Scope of laboratory testing
- Factory inspections and travel expenses
- Translations and documentation effort
- Additional testing following nonconformities
- Ongoing surveillance activities
A reliable quotation should clearly distinguish between initial certification, subsequent effort and possible additional services. The duration can also only be planned reliably after the documentation has been reviewed. Test samples, laboratory availability, inspection dates and necessary corrections affect the schedule. Certification should therefore be factored into planning before binding delivery commitments are made.
Checklist for entering the Chinese market
- Product and intended use clearly described
- CCC requirement checked against the current scope definitions
- Applicable certification procedure determined
- Transition periods and changes to standards taken into account
- Models and certification units defined
- Company roles and production sites documented
- Suitable certification body and testing laboratories selected
- Technical documentation completed
- Test samples agreed upon
- Factory inspection prepared for, where required
- Marking and language versions checked
- Certificate status checked before delivery
- Change management and surveillance arranged
Are you planning to export to China? Send AC Inorms your product description, data sheets, model overview and existing test reports. These provide a basis for discussing the requirements and the further scope of the project.
CCC stands for China Compulsory Certification. The system governs the mandatory conformity assessment of certain products for the Chinese market.
No. The current product catalogue and the technical scope definitions are decisive. Products outside the scope of CCC may nevertheless be subject to other Chinese requirements.
No. CE marking relates to European requirements. Any required Chinese proof of conformity must be provided separately.
No. The permitted procedure depends on the respective product group and the applicable rules. The CCC self‑declaration is only permitted for products expressly designated for this procedure.
For 16 affected product types, the existing self‑declaration procedure will be replaced by third‑party certification. As a general rule, companies must complete the required transition by 31 December 2026.
The scope and timing depend on the prescribed procedure. For many third‑party certifications, assessment of production forms part of the certification model. A blanket statement covering all CCC products would be inaccurate.
The number of samples depends on the product, the test programme and the range of variants. It should be agreed with the responsible body before shipment.
This may be possible if the rules for forming certification units are met. A similar trade name alone is not sufficient.
Exemptions may be available for certain purposes specified by law. The conditions, approval and permitted use must be clarified before importation.
No. The production sites actually covered and the approved scope are decisive. A relocation or an additional production site must be assessed for its implications.
