Global Certification Encyclopedia – China Compulsory Certification (CCC)

China Compulsory Certification, abbreviated as CCC or 3C certification, is a national mandatory product conformity assessment system established by the Chinese government in accordance with WTO rules and international common practices. It aims to protect personal safety, animal and plant life, environmental resources and national security by implementing continuous third-party conformity evaluation on high-risk products. The system integrates the former safety certification administered by the State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision and the safety and quality licensing system of the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. After China’s WTO accession in 2001,it was uniformly regulated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), forming a unified certification model with standardized catalogs, technical standards, certification marks and charging criteria.

1. Definition

CCC (China Compulsory Certification) is the unified mandatory product certification mark implemented by the Chinese government. It integrates three previous certification systems: China Electrical Equipment Safety Certification (CCEE), China Import Commodity Inspection Bureau Safety License (CCIB), and Electromagnetic Compatibility Certification (EMC). As an authoritative and internationally aligned product safety system, it is a legally mandatory conformity assessment mechanism widely adopted globally to safeguard consumer personal and property safety, public health and environmental security. China’s first mandatory certification catalog covers 132 product categories across 19 industries, including wires and cables, low-voltage electrical appliances, IT equipment, safety glass, fire-fighting products, vehicle tires and latex products.

2. Core Content of CCC Certification

CCC certification enforces mandatory national safety assessment for high-risk products, with core provisions summarized as follows:

1. In compliance with WTO agreements and international practices, China implements a unified mandatory product certification system for products involving human health, animal and plant safety, environmental protection and public safety, centrally managed and supervised by CNCA.

2. The system features unified product catalogs, national standards, implementation procedures, certification marks and charging standards. All listed products must obtain certification from designated authorities and bear valid CCC marks before factory release, importation, sales and commercial use.

3. Based on China’s WTO commitments and national treatment principles, the current catalog adjusts the original 138 regulated products by removing 16 items such as medical ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and adding 10 new items including construction safety glass, covering a total of 132 products.

4. The unified CCC mark officially replaces the former Great Wall mark and CCIB mark for all certified products.

5. Certification fees are uniformly formulated by national authorities on a non-profit basis, referencing international charging standards and domestic industry practices.

6. The new CCC system was officially launched on May 1, 2002. The previous product safety certification and import safety licensing systems were officially abolished on August 1, 2003 to ensure a smooth policy transition.

3. CCC Certification Scope & Implementation Rules (Updated April 2026)

1) Wires & Cables (3 Products)

0101 Wire Assemblies – CNCA-C02-01:2014 0104 Rubber Insulated Cables (≤450/750V) – CNCA-C01-01:2024 0105 PVC Insulated Cables (≤450/750V)

2) Circuit Switching & Electrical Accessories (5 Products)

0201 Plugs & Sockets,0202 Household Switches,0204 Appliance Couplers, 0206 Enclosures – CNCA-C02-01:2014 0205/0207 Fuses – CNCA-C02-02:2026 (Trial)

3) Low-Voltage Electrical Appliances (2 Products)

0301 Low-voltage Complete Switchgear – CNCA-00C-008:2019 (Self-declaration) 0302–0309 Low-voltage Components – CNCA-C03-02:2024

4) Small-Power Motors (1 Product)

0401 Small-power Motors – CNCA-C04-01:2026 (Trial)

5) Power Tools (3 Products)

0501 Electric Drills,0503 Electric Grinders,0506 Electric Hammers – CNCA-C05-01:2026 (Trial)

6) Welding Equipment (4 Products)

0603 DC Arc Welders,0604 TIG Welders,0605 MIG/MAG Welders,0607 Plasma Cutters – CNCA-C06-01:2026 (Trial)

7) Household Appliances (20 Products)

0701 Refrigerators,0702 Fans,0703 Air Conditioners,0705 Washing Machines, 0706 Water Heaters, 0707 Heaters, 0708 Vacuum Cleaners,0709 Personal Care Appliances,0710 Irons,0711 Induction Cookers,0712 Ovens,0713 Food Processors,0714 Microwaves,0715 Stoves,0716 Range Hoods,0717 Water Dispensers,0718 Rice Cookers,0719 Electric Blankets,0720 Electronic Toilets – CNCA-C07-01:2024 0704 Motor Compressors – CNCA-00C-008:2019 (Self-declaration)

8) Electronic Products & Safety Accessories (13 Products)

0808 TVs & Set-top Boxes,0901/0902 Computers,0903 Monitors,0904 Printers, 0905 Copiers,0906 Scanners,0911 Servers,1602 Fax Machines,1606 Mobile Terminals, 0807/0907 Power Supplies – CNCA-C09-01:2023 0914 Power Banks, 0915 Lithium Batteries – CNCA-C09-02:2025 (Trial)

9) Lighting Equipment (2 Products)

1001 Lamps,1002 Ballasts – CNCA-C10-01:2014

10) Vehicles & Safety Accessories (15 Products)

1101 Vehicles – CNCA-C11-01:2020 1102 Motorcycles – CNCA-C11-02:2021 1119 E-bikes – CNCA-C11-16:2023 1201/1202 Vehicle Tires – CNCA-C12-01:2015 1105 Helmets – CNCA-C11-15:2024 1120 Brake Linings – CNCA-C11-20:2020 1121 E-bike Lithium Batteries, 1122 E-bike Chargers – CNCA-C11-21/22:2024 1301 Automotive Safety Glass,1104 Seatbelts, 1109/1116 Lighting Devices,1110/1115 Vision Devices,1114 Seats & Headrests,1117 Driving Recorders,1118 Reflective Markings – 2026 Trial Rules

11) Agricultural Machinery (2 Products)

1401 Plant Protection Machinery,1402 Wheel Tractors – CNCA-C14-01:2014

12) Fire-Fighting Products (3 Products)

1801 Fire Alarm Systems,1810 Fire Extinguishers,1815 Escape Devices – CNCA-C18-01/02/03:2024

13) Building Materials (4 Products)

2101 Solvent-based Coatings,2104 Water-based Wall Paints,2102 Ceramic Tiles – CNCA-C21-01:2024 1302 Architectural Safety Glass – CNCA-C13-01:2014

14) Children’s Products (3 Products)

2201 Strollers – CNCA-C22-01:2020 2202 Toys – CNCA-C22-02:2020 2207 Child Restraint Systems – CNCA-C22-03:2014

15) Explosion-Proof Electrical Equipment (18 Products)

Including explosion-proof motors, pumps, switchgears, controllers, starters, transformers, actuators, connectors, monitoring & communication devices, ventilation & heating equipment, sensors, safety barriers, lamps and accessories – CNCA-C23-01:2024

16) Gas Appliances & Safety Accessories (6 Products)

2401 Gas Stoves,2402 Water Heaters,2403 Heating Boilers,2404 Commercial Gas Appliances – CNCA-C24-01:2024 2405 Gas Hoses,2406 Emergency Shut-off Valves – CNCA-C24-02:2024

17) EV Charging Equipment (2 Products)

2501 AC Charging Equipment,2502 DC Charging Equipment – CNCA-C25-01:2024

4. CCC Certification Certificate Specifications

The State Administration for Market Regulation unifies the format of CCC certificates and the design of CCC marks.A valid CCC certificate includes the following mandatory information: applicant name and address, manufacturer information, contracted production enterprise details (if applicable), product name, series and model, certification basis, certification mode, issuance date and validity period, issuing authority and certificate number.

The CCC certificate is valid for 5 years. Certification bodies will record annual inspection status and inquiry information on certificates. Applicants must submit renewal applications at least 90 days before expiration.

5. CCC Certification Procedures & Cycle

Standard procedures: application acceptance → sample testing → initial factory audit → result evaluation & approval → post-certification supervision.

General certification cycle: Applications are accepted within 2–3 working days. Routine product testing takes approximately 7 working days. Test report review and approval take 3–5 working days, followed by institutional review of another 5–10 working days. Factory inspection and non-conformity rectification are completed within 10 working days under efficient coordination. The overall full-cycle certification is typically 4–6 weeks for standard products.

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