China Compulsory Certificate

The China Compulsory Certification ( CCC) is a valid in China certification system. It was introduced in August 2003 as a result of WTO accession. CCC replaces the previous systems CCIB (China Import and Export Commodity Inspection Bureau) and CCEE (China Commission for Conformity Certification of Electrical Equipment). During certification, product testing and factory audits are conducted. The entire process can be completed with good advice within about 4 months. The CCC applies to both imported and Chinese products. The products requiring certification may only be imported to China are sold in China and used in business activities in China, after a CCC certification of the product was applied for and granted.

GB standards

It was created by the Chinese government a CCC product catalog containing all products that require CCC certification. The catalog contains a list of standards by which a product needs to be certified, the so-called GB standards (GB stands for GB coding, Chinese for "National Standard"). Especially the GB standards are not clearly communicated and it always comes back to misunderstandings.

Products Affected

The GB catalog contains among others these products:

• Electric wires and cables
• Switches for circuits and fuses
• Low Voltage Electrical Apparatus
• Small power motors
• Electric tools
• Welding equipment
• Household and similar electrical appliances
• Audio and video equipment
• Information Technology Equipment
• Lighting apparatus
• Telecommunications terminal equipment
• Motor vehicles and safety parts
• Tyre
• Goggles
• Agricultural machinery
• Latex products
• Medical devices and products
• Fire fighting equipment
• Intrusion Alarm Systems
• WLAN systems
• Toys

Responsible authorities

The required during the certification product testing and factory inspection can be recognized only by the Chinese authorities designated agencies. The CCC mark is administered by the Chinese central authority CNCA (Certification and Accreditation Administration ). The CQC ( The China Quality Certification Center ) or the CCAP ( China Certification Centre for Automotive Products ) are responsible for the implementation of certification and specify the product groups that must be certified. In addition, there are other authorities who are responsible for specific product groups, for example, the CCAP, which performs certification of automotive parts.

Certification process

Companies that want to export goods subject to certification by China must go through the following steps roughly:

• Application
• Submission of product documents
• Shipment of product samples to China for laboratory tests
• Factory inspection by Chinese emissaries of the responsible certification authority
• Application for permission to print the CCC certificates (mark approval )

Follow Up - Certification

The CCC certificate and the mark approval must be renewed annually as part of a follow-up certification. The Follow -Up certification is shorter and associated with lower costs than the initial certification. It is usually requires about no further product testing in China and the audit will be kept compact.

Probability of success

The certification may fail if the Chinese policies are not or not fully observed. The results of product testing and factory inspection can be checked by the Chinese authorities and compared with the forms submitted in advance. For errors or defects, the certification is denied or delayed. In case of rejection of the CCC certification of the certification report shall include the reasons for the rejection. A re- recording of tests and audits is possible, but also costs more and waiting times.

Costs of the CCC certification

The amount of the costs is dependent on the products to be certified. In the CCC certification by the Chinese authorities exist the following types of costs:

• Application fees and higher authorities fees
• Test fees
• Inspection fees
• Travel and expenses
• Marking fees CNCA

Be added

• Interpreting costs
• Product cost of test products
• Internal costs, eg staff costs

Moreover fall when forms are filled out incorrectly, tests / audits must be repeated and CCC certificates must be radically amended to an additional charge.

Legal practice

Failure to comply with the provisions of the CCC import goods at the border are detained or sent back to the sender. In case of unauthorized use of a CCC approval or at the CCC marking products without certificate fines and lawsuits come to the exporter.