The director of a power bank manufacturer, facing the full removal of millions of RMB worth of products from e-commerce platforms and stockpiled in the warehouse, asked anxiously: "Didn’t we get the CCC certification last year? Why are there new regulations again?"

Since power banks were officially included in China’s Compulsory Product Certification (CCC) catalogue in August 2023, this certification has become an absolute prerequisite for product launch and sales. However, regulatory policies continue to be upgraded, with a number of important new rules issued in 2025 that impose stricter requirements from production sources to the final certification marks.

For manufacturers, brand owners and e-commerce sellers alike, understanding and keeping up with these latest changes is the key to ensuring legal product circulation and avoiding heavy losses.

01 Regulatory Upgrade: Core Interpretation of the Latest Policies

Power bank CCC certification is not static. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) are continuously tightening the regulatory system. Enterprises must pay special attention to the following two major recent changes:

1. Significant Strengthening of Certification Rules and Supervision

The new version of the Rules for the Implementation of Compulsory Product Certification has been officially implemented since August 15, 2025. Its key updates compared with the previous version are as follows:

• Production source control: The new rules clearly specify requirements for key production processes of manufacturers, covering more than 20 links from positive and negative electrode material screening to finished product assembly. This means certification not only regulates products, but also delves deeper into production processes.
• Unannounced inspections become the norm: The proportion of unannounced flying inspections has been significantly increased to ensure real-time grasp of enterprises’ actual production status.
• Enhanced evidence traceability: Key links such as sampling and testing are required to be video-recorded simultaneously with sample retention, facilitating subsequent problem tracing and liability definition.

2. Major Reform of Certification Marks: Addition of Traceability QR Code

According to an announcement issued by CNCA at the end of 2025, a pilot program for mark reform is about to take effect:

• New requirement: Starting from March 1, 2026, all newly certified power banks must be affixed with a unique traceability QR code immediately to the right of the original CCC mark pattern.
• Objective: The public and regulators can scan the code to check authentic information such as certificate number, producer, model and certification body, aiming to crack down on counterfeit certification and fake marks.
• Transition period: Starting from March 1, 2027, all certified power banks on sale must complete the mark upgrade.

02 Why CCC Certification Is a Must: Beyond Legality

Applying for CCC certification is far more than just "passing inspections"—it is directly related to the survival and business opportunities of enterprises:

• Legally mandatory market access: According to national regulations, starting from August 1, 2024, power banks without CCC certification and marked certification signs are prohibited from being manufactured, sold, imported or used in other business activities. This is an insurmountable red line.
• E-commerce platform pass: All mainstream e-commerce platforms including Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo have mandatory requirements that a valid CCC certificate number must be filled in to list power banks. Uncertified products will be directly removed from shelves.
• Expanding offline channels: Formal supermarkets, physical stores, gift procurement and other channels all require suppliers to provide CCC certificates, which is the foundation of trust for establishing business cooperation.
• Cornerstone of consumer trust: Most importantly, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has clearly stipulated that passengers are prohibited from carrying power banks without CCC certification marks on domestic flights. Having CCC certification is the most direct proof of product safety and directly affects consumers’ purchasing decisions.

03 Certification Standards & Core Test Items

Power bank CCC certification is mainly based on the following two mandatory national standards:

1. GB 4943.1-2022: Audio, video, information and communication technology equipment - Part 1: Safety requirements – Evaluates the electrical safety, structural safety, fire and electric shock protection of the whole device.
2. GB 31241-2022 (updated to GB 31241-2024): Safety technical specifications for lithium-ion batteries and battery packs for portable electronic products – Evaluates the safety performance of internal battery cells and packs, the most critical and stringent part of the certification.

Key Test Items

• Electrical safety tests: Protection function tests for overcharge, overdischarge, external short circuit, abnormal charging, etc.
• Mechanical safety tests: Extrusion, drop, vibration, impact and other tests to simulate accidents in daily use.
• Environmental safety tests: Temperature cycle, low air pressure (simulating high altitude), thermal abuse and other tests to verify battery stability in harsh environments.
• Key material and system evaluation: Notably, the state is formulating a stricter Safety Technical Specification for Mobile Power Supplies, which will put forward specific requirements for key materials such as positive and negative electrode materials and separators, as well as battery safety after aging (e.g., lithium dendrite deposition) in the future.

04 Efficient Application: Full Process Guide

Applying for power bank CCC certification is a systematic project, and cooperating with professional institutions can greatly improve the success rate and efficiency. The key steps are outlined as follows:

Step 1: Preparations and Document Compilation

Determine the product certification unit and prepare the following technical documents:

• Enterprise documents: Business license, certification application form.
• Technical documents: Product specifications, circuit schematic diagrams, PCB layout drawings, structural drawings, Chinese user manual.
• Key component list: List of key components such as battery cells, protection boards and ICs, and their conformity certificates (battery cells themselves must have obtained GB 31241 certification—an important prerequisite).
• Mark design draft: CCC mark design draft including the traceability QR code required by the new rules (the certification body will provide QR code information when issuing the certificate).

Step 2: Application Submission and Type Test

Submit the application and samples to a qualified certification body (e.g., CQC) or its authorized laboratory. The laboratory will conduct a comprehensive test in accordance with the standards for about 4 weeks. If the test fails, professional institutions will provide rectification guidance.

Step 3: Initial Factory Inspection

For enterprises applying for the first time, the certification body will send auditors to conduct an on-site factory inspection to verify the quality assurance capability and product consistency.

Step 4: Certification Obtainment and Subsequent Obligations

After passing the test and factory inspection, a valid CCC certificate will be obtained. Please note:

• Long-term validity with maintenance obligations: Enterprises must accept annual supervision by the certification body (including factory inspection and sampling testing). Failure to pass or accept supervision will result in suspension or revocation of the certificate.
• Correct mark usage: Starting from March 1, 2026, newly certified products must use the new CCC mark with a traceability QR code.

05 Key Focus: Cost & Cycle

Certification Cost

The total cost is usually between RMB 20,000 and 50,000, depending on product complexity, number of test items, need for rectification and the selected certification body. Some service providers in the market quote around RMB 25,000.

Application Cycle

It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks from sample delivery and testing to certification obtainment. The cycle will be extended if the product needs rectification or the factory inspection arrangement is delayed. Choosing an institution that provides pre-testing services can help identify problems in advance and is an effective way to shorten the overall cycle.

06 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is the previously obtained CCC certificate still valid under the new rules?

A: Yes. Valid CCC certificates issued earlier can continue to be used. However, starting from August 15, 2025, all post-certification supervision (annual review) must be implemented in accordance with the new rules with stricter regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, please note that products must be reaffixed with the new mark with a QR code before March 1, 2027.

Q: Can one certificate cover multiple models?

A: Yes. As long as the key structures and components of the models are the same, and only minor parameters such as appearance, color and capacity are different, enterprises can apply for a series certification, which greatly saves costs and time.

Q: If we already have export certifications such as UL and CE, can we be exempted from CCC certification?

A: No. CCC is China’s mandatory market access system, independent of other national certification systems with different test standards and evaluation focuses, and cannot be replaced. However, some overlapping test data may be referenced by certification bodies, helping to reduce part of the workload.

Q: What to do if e-commerce platforms require test reports for random inspections?

A: You need to provide a valid CCC certificate issued by a certification body, not just a laboratory test report. At the same time, ensure that the actual production of products is consistent with the certified samples to cope with random inspections by platforms or market supervision departments.