On June 26, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a notice stating that starting from June 28, passengers are prohibited from carrying power banks that do not have the 3C logo, have unclear 3C logos, or have recalled models or batches on domestic flights. This provision quickly sparked heated debate.
According to media reports, many netizens on social platforms reported that their power banks were not allowed to be brought onto the plane. Pictures of the scene shared by netizens showed that baskets of passenger power banks were stopped at the airport, and "no one without the 3C mark could get on the plane."
On June 27, a netizen posted on Weibo that he learned during the security check at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport that camera batteries, regardless of their capacity, as long as they do not have the 3C mark, will not be allowed to be brought on board the plane starting from the 28th. However, the reporter left a message to the netizen expressing his willingness to be interviewed, but as of the time of publication, no reply had been received.
Netizen posts
As soon as the post came out, netizens started to discuss whether spare camera batteries without the 3C mark cannot be taken on board a plane?
At noon on June 27, a media reporter called the Shanghai Hongqiao Airport Security Inspection Center. The staff responded that the 3C mark notification received so far is only for power banks; as for camera batteries, computers and other equipment, they still follow the previous security inspection standards. "Battery batteries with a battery capacity less than 100Wh can be carried with you at most 20 batteries. Those with a battery capacity greater than 100Wh need to go to the manual counter to get a certificate."
A staff member who has been in the civil aviation industry for many years said that before the new regulations on power banks, camera backup batteries were basically required to be inspected after passing the security check at the airport. The inspection was not just started this time, but has always been required. This time the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s explicit notice only mentioned power banks.
Currently, Shanghai Airport (Group) Co., Ltd. has issued a notice on its official website stating that Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao Airports will actively implement the requirements of the notice to ensure the safety of passengers. Passengers are requested to abide by the notice requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration, carefully check the certification mark, brand and model information of the power bank before traveling, do not bring unqualified power banks on board, and take out the power bank in advance for inspection before security check to avoid delaying the trip. The notice also only mentions power banks.
On the morning of June 27, reporters called Shanghai Hongqiao Airport security, Beijing Daxing Airport customer service, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport customer service, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport customer service, and Nanning Airport security consultation. The answers they received were that the Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations only apply to power banks. For camera lithium batteries, the previous regulations are still followed, that is, camera lithium batteries can be brought on board if the rated energy does not exceed 100wh, is not damaged, and is clearly marked.
Since this year, there have been occasional incidents of lithium battery products such as power banks carried by passengers catching fire and smoking on airplanes. Recently, many brands of power bank manufacturers have recalled multiple batches of products due to safety risks in their batteries. The State Administration for Market Regulation has revoked or suspended the 3C certification of many power bank and battery cell manufacturers.
According to the announcement issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation, starting from August 1, 2024, lithium-ion batteries, battery packs, and mobile power supplies that have not obtained 3C certification and are labeled with the certification mark may not be shipped, sold, imported, or used in other business activities. Many batteries, power banks, etc. sold before this did not have 3C certification. The reporter learned that many practitioners in the film and television industry will be equipped with multiple spare batteries, and the battery replacement frequency is not high. Many old batteries were purchased before August last year and have no relevant labels.
According to media reports, 3C certification (China Compulsory Certification, China Compulsory Product Certification) is a compulsory market access system implemented in accordance with the law in my country to protect the personal safety of consumers, national security and the environment. According to national regulations, power banks that are officially on the market must obtain 3C compulsory certification.
