Tianjin Customs:
Our company is a trading company that specializes in electronic products. Recently, we are preparing to import a batch of portable electronic equipment such as power banks. I heard that China has a special certification management system for this type of electronic equipment. I would like to ask: What are the precautions when importing this type of products? What is the relevant certification management system?
Tianjin reader Mr. Liu
Mr. Liu:
Hello! Power bank is a type of lithium-ion battery. According to the "Announcement of the State Administration for Market Regulation on the Implementation of Compulsory Product Certification Management for Lithium-ion Batteries and Other Products" (No. 10, 2023), lithium-ion batteries are included in China Compulsory Product Certification (CCC) management. Therefore, when you import such goods, you must follow the relevant regulations of the compulsory product certification system.
The specific explanation for you is as follows:
What is the compulsory product certification system
China Compulsory Certification (CCC), referred to as CCC certification, is a product conformity assessment system implemented in accordance with laws and regulations in my country to protect the personal safety of consumers and national security, and strengthen product quality management. Products listed in the CCC certification catalog must be certified and marked with the certification mark before they can be shipped, sold, imported or used in other business activities.
In accordance with the "Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China" and its implementation regulations, the customs implements verification management of imported commodities listed in the CCC certification catalog, inspects documents, and checks whether the certified goods are consistent.
How to declare for customs clearance of CCC certified products
(1) Which products require CCC certification?
The State Administration for Market Regulation issued Announcement No. 10 of 2023, adding three new types of CCC certified products, including: "lithium-ion batteries and battery packs", "power banks" and "power supplies".
As of now, the products involved in CCC certification in the new "Compulsory Product Certification Catalog" involve 16 major categories: wires and cables, circuit switches and electrical devices for protection or connection, low-voltage electrical appliances, low-power motors, power tools, welding machines, home appliances, electronic products and safety accessories, lighting appliances, vehicles and safety accessories, agricultural machinery products, fire protection products, building materials products, children's products, explosion-proof electrical appliances, household gas appliances, etc.
(2) How to declare products in the catalog?
For goods in the certification catalog, select "Inside the 11-3C Catalog" in the cargo attribute column of the International Trade Single Window when declaring, add "Compulsory Product Certification (CCC Certification) Certificate" to the license information and fill in the certificate number.
(3) Situations where CCC certification is not required or exempted
No need to apply: It is within the certification catalog, but the goods are temporary import and export goods, personal items for diplomats, items carried by entry personnel, inter-governmental aid gifts, ATA document goods, goods entering the bonded area, CCC type test samples, and returned goods. When declaring, select "13-No need to apply for 3C certification" in the cargo attribute column of the single window of international trade when declaring, and upload the corresponding supporting documents in the paperless system.
Exemption: products and samples required for scientific research testing and certification testing, parts and components required for maintenance purposes, equipment and parts required for complete sets of factory production lines, products that are only used for commercial display but not for sale, parts and components imported for the purpose of exporting the complete machine, and other special purposes are exempted. To apply for compulsory product certification, the applicant submits a CCC exemption application to the local market supervision department. For products that have obtained an exemption certificate, select "11-3C Catalog" in the cargo attribute column of the International Trade Single Window when applying, add "Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Product Certification" to the license information and fill in the certificate number.
Things to note
(1) Starting from August 1, 2023, the designated certification agency has begun to accept certification entrustments for products newly included in the compulsory product certification catalog such as "lithium-ion batteries" and carry out certification work in accordance with the "Compulsory Product Certification Implementation Rules for Information Technology Equipment" and the applicable standards listed in the attachment. Starting from August 1, 2024, products newly included in the CCC catalog that have not obtained the CCC certification and are marked with the certification mark may not be manufactured, sold, imported, or used in other business activities.
(2) When handling import and export business, relevant parties in import and export trade should refer to the "Compulsory Product Certification Catalog" and other documents, and accurately grasp the import and export commodity certification information based on the 10-digit HS code corresponding to the commodity, so as to avoid affecting customs clearance of goods due to declaration reasons.
(3) According to Article 16 of the "Regulations on the Implementation of the Import and Export Commodity Inspection Law of the People's Republic of China", for imported commodities subject to verification management, the consignee shall apply for verification to the entry-exit inspection and quarantine agency at the customs declaration place. When declaring, you need to fill in the license number at the "single window". The customs will conduct online verification of regulatory documents such as "Certificate of Exemption from Compulsory Product Certification" and "Compulsory Product Certification Certificate". Products without CCC certification found during the import customs clearance process will be destroyed or returned.
(Li Mingyong, deputy section chief of the Inspection Section of Nankai Customs under Tianjin Customs, and Liu Yannan, section chief of the Comprehensive Section of the Commodity Inspection Division of Tianjin Customs)
