CCC

China Compulsory Certification (CCC), also known as 3C certification, is China's mandatory product safety certification system administered by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA). Established in December 2001 and fully effective from August 2003, CCC replaced the previous CCIB (safety mark) and CCEE (quality mark) systems with a unified certification framework. The CCC mark is required for products manufactured in China and imported products sold in the Chinese market across 22 categories covering over 186 product types, including electrical appliances, automotive parts, information technology equipment, telecommunications equipment, toys, and safety accessories.

CCC certification involves factory inspection, product testing at designated laboratories, and ongoing surveillance audits. The certification process typically takes 2-4 months and requires manufacturers to maintain quality management systems, submit technical documentation, and pass electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety testing. Major certification bodies include CQC (China Quality Certification Center), CCAP (China Certification Centre for Automotive Products), and other CNCA-designated agencies. Recent updates in 2024 expanded the scope to include lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicle charging equipment, while exempting nine product categories from mandatory certification. Non-compliance can result in products being seized at customs, market recalls, and substantial fines up to 3 times the product value.