Against the backdrop of increasingly stringent market regulation, 3C certification (China Compulsory Certification) has become the "birth certificate" and "passport" for legal sales and use in China—whether for enterprises producing batteries, power banks, or batteries for electric bicycles.

This guide clarifies the core concepts of 3C certification, outlines the full application process and latest regulatory changes for three key product categories (batteries, power banks, and electric bicycle batteries), and helps you efficiently navigate the compliance journey.

Core Concepts & Mandatory Requirements of 3C Certification

3C certification, officially known as "China Compulsory Certification," is a mandatory product conformity assessment system implemented by the Chinese government in accordance with laws to protect consumer safety, national security, and the environment. Its core feature is mandatoriness:

• No Certification = No Sales: Products listed in the Catalogue of Compulsory Product Certification shall not leave the factory, be sold, imported, or used in other business activities without obtaining certification and affixing the 3C mark.
• Legal Liability: Violations may result in severe penalties, including rectification orders, fines (50,000 to 200,000 RMB), and confiscation of illegal gains.
• Market Access Barriers: For consumers, 3C-unmarked products such as power banks may even be prohibited from being carried on airplanes or shipped via courier.

For batteries and terminal products, the mandatory certification requirement is more explicit. Currently, power banks, lithium-ion batteries/battery packs for portable electronic products, and lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles are all officially included in mandatory certification management.

Detailed General Application Process for 3C Certification

Regardless of the product type, applying for 3C certification through the "third-party certification" method typically follows a rigorous six-step process:

Focus on Core Product Categories: Latest Rules & Requirements

For your key focus areas, national and industry regulatory authorities have recently issued several important new rules, imposing more detailed requirements for enterprise certification applications:

1. Power Banks & Portable Lithium-Ion Batteries: New Rules Now in Effect

Since August 15, 2025, the Implementation Rules for Compulsory Product Certification - Power Banks, Lithium-Ion Batteries and Battery Packs (Trial) has officially taken effect. Core changes of the new rules include:

• Certification Mode: Clearly defined as "Type Test + Initial Factory Inspection + Post-Certification Supervision."
• Sampling Method: Changed from enterprise self-submission to on-site random sampling by certification bodies from the finished product warehouse or production line end, with video recording required for verification.
• Applicable Standards:
  • Power banks: GB 4943.1 and GB 31241
  • Lithium-ion batteries/battery packs: GB 31241
• Transition Arrangement: Previously issued valid certificates can continue to be used; enterprises can naturally transition to the new rules when renewing certificates or modifying products.

2. Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Bicycles: Mandatory Certification Deadline Arrived

According to the announcement of the State Administration for Market Regulation, lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles have been included in mandatory product certification management:

• Mandatory Implementation Date: Starting from November 1, 2025, the product must obtain CCC certification and affix the mark before leaving the factory or being sold.
• Certification Independence: Vehicle certification, battery certification, and charger certification are mutually independent; vehicle certification includes compatibility review but cannot replace the battery’s independent certification.
• Technical Specifications: Batteries must comply with mandatory standards such as Safety Technical Specifications for Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Bicycles (GB 43854—2024).

Our Services: Escorting Your 3C Certification Journey

Faced with increasingly strict and complex 3C certification requirements—especially the new rules emphasizing production consistency and process traceability—professional technical support is crucial. As a professional testing and certification service provider, we offer the following core values:

1. In-Depth Interpretation of New Rules & Tailored Plan Development

Our expert team continuously tracks regulatory dynamics. Before project initiation, we provide detailed explanations of differences between old and new rules—especially new requirements such as "on-site sampling" and "key process control"—and develop customized application strategies and preparation plans to avoid detours.

2. End-to-End Technical Support

• Preparation Phase: Assist in preparing high-quality technical documents (e.g., circuit diagrams, specifications, key component lists) and factory system documents to improve the first-time acceptance rate.
• Audit Response: Provide factory inspection guidance, helping enterprises establish and improve quality assurance capabilities and product consistency control systems compliant with new rules, enabling confident response to rigorous initial inspections and spot checks.

3. Professional Pre-Evaluation & Risk Mitigation

Before formal application and sampling, we offer professional pre-testing and pre-evaluation services to identify potential non-conformities in products. This allows for early rectification during product design and production stages, significantly reducing time and cost risks associated with test failures or factory inspection non-compliance.

4. Continuous Compliance Services

Certification is not the end. We assist enterprises in establishing a long-term post-certification supervision response mechanism to ensure sustained compliance with production requirements, maintain certificate validity, and address market supervision spot checks.

Choosing a professional partner means entrusting complex, specialized compliance matters to experts—allowing you to focus more on product R&D and market expansion.

If you have more specific questions about 3C certification applications for batteries, power banks, or electric bicycle batteries, or wish to obtain a preliminary evaluation and plan for your products, please feel free to contact Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd. Let our professional capabilities help your products enter the broad Chinese market safely, compliantly, and efficiently.