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What is CCC?

In the field of product certifications, the abbreviation CCC stands for China Compulsory Certificate. Certain product groups must present a CCC certificate before they can be exported to China. It is a mandatory certification in China.

CCC certification is comparable to other certifications aimed at standardizing product quality, such as the European CE marking system – however, there are important differences that must be taken into account.

Automotive CCC

Vehicles and automotive components are subject to particularly strict approval requirements regarding CCC certification in China. The CCC certificate was introduced in 2002 and applies to both imported and Chinese products. CCC certification requires that the deadlines specified by the standards (GB Standards) for product testing and audits are strictly adhered to. In addition, change management in the automotive sector must adapt to the dynamics of the industry and be strategically prepared specifically for China.

CCC – Explosion Protection

Since October 1, 2020, CCC certification has been mandatory in China for certain electrical explosion-protected components. This is a special product category within CCC certification and therefore a mandatory certification for affected Ex products.

Relevant electrical Ex components may only be imported, sold, and operated in China once the CCC certification process has been successfully completed.

CCC Exemption Certificate

Import regulations and certification requirements can pose major challenges for exporters who want to export products to China. Before shipping to China, the certification requirements of products should always be checked as part of a CCC compliance check, because in addition to CCC certification, goods may also fall under many other certifications in China, such as SRRC, NAL, SELO, GACC, CEL, etc. At Chinese customs, there is therefore generally a high risk that certification requirements are incorrectly assigned.

CCC for Complete Vehicles

In order to import complete vehicles into China – the world’s largest automotive market – a CCC whole vehicle approval must be carried out. In addition to component certifications, special provisions and regulations apply in China for CCC whole vehicle approval. 

CQC / CCAP Certification

Many products that are not subject to mandatory CCC certification can obtain CQC certification or CCAP certification on a voluntary basis. Voluntary certifications provide retailers and end consumers in China with an indication that a certified product complies with Chinese quality standards and GB standards. This increases a product’s competitiveness in the Chinese market. National quality marks have much greater importance in the People’s Republic of China than, for example, the CE logo in Europe.

GACC Registration – Food Certification

Registration with GACC is mandatory both for producers from third countries who want to export their food products to China and for exporters who want to export goods to China. These are two separate procedures, both overseen by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China.

CCIC Pre-Shipment Inspection

The China CCIC Pre-Shipment Inspection is a pre-shipment inspection for used machinery that is imported into China. The Chinese authority responsible for quality control of goods is the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which regulates and monitors the import of used machinery based on laws and regulations.

SRRC Certification

Telecommunication devices that use radio technologies such as WLAN or Bluetooth may fall under the SRRC (State Radio Regulation of China) registration. Products equipped with radio transmitters and using specific frequency bands require an SRRC certificate. Pure receiving devices are not affected. The responsible authority is the State Radio Monitoring and Testing Center (SRTC).

NAL Licensing

Telecommunication products exported to China must possess a Network Access License (NAL). NAL licensing is a mandatory approval for telecommunication devices connected to the public telecommunications network. The NAL licensing is based on the SRRC certificate. Without an SRRC certificate, no NAL license will be issued.

CEL Certification

The China Energy Label (CEL) is, similar to the EU energy label, a marking for the energy consumption of a product. Manufacturers of certain electrical appliances are required to place it on their products in order to inform consumers in China about the product’s energy efficiency. The label contains information about the energy efficiency class (1 to 5) and the energy consumption.

SELO Licensing

The SELO license is a mandatory product certification for the approval of pressure vessels, hydrogen products, and valves for the Chinese market. In 2014, China introduced a new regulation on the safety of special equipment. Among other things, this regulation concerns pressure vessels and stipulates that both domestic and foreign manufacturers must obtain a SELO license in order to sell their products in China.

CPA Licensing for Measuring Instruments

Since November 1, 2020, a number of measuring instruments require CPA certification (China Pattern Approval) in order to be imported into China. The manufacture and sale of these products are only permitted with a valid CPA certificate.

HAF604 Certification

Certain safety-relevant equipment intended for use in nuclear power plants in China must be certified by the manufacturer in advance. A HAF-604 certification is required for the design, manufacture, and installation of many safety-relevant components. The regulations of the HAF-604 certification were established in 2008 with the aim of better monitoring and controlling the import of safety components from abroad into China.

NDK Manufacturer Approval for Turkey

Manufacturers of safety-relevant components for the nuclear industry intended for use in Turkish nuclear power plants must obtain NDK manufacturer approval. The responsible supervisory authority is the Nükleer Düzenleme Kurumu in Turkey. This approval is often referred to as Nuclear Manufacturer Approval.

CCIC Quality Inspection

The China CCIC Quality Inspection is a quality control process for products imported into China or products imported from China whose quality must be verified.

The Chinese authority AQSIQ (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine), established in April 2001, is responsible for the quality control of goods and monitors imports and exports according to laws and regulations.

VSCC Certification

For imports into Taiwan, it must be demonstrated that products comply with Taiwanese safety and quality standards. To verify this compliance, the Vehicle Safety Test Directions published by the Vehicle Safety Certification Center (VSCC) are applied. If a specific test standard exists, the corresponding product can undergo VSCC product certification.

VSTD – Vehicle Safety Testing Directions

Each product certified by VSCC is associated with a VSTD (Vehicle Safety Testing Directions). The VSTD defines the product testing procedures that must be carried out as part of the VSCC certification process. Passenger cars as complete vehicles are subject to certification. While the vehicle manufacturer may release certain component requirements within the overall vehicle certification, this often creates significant effort for the OEM when changes are made to supplier components.

NCC Certification

The NCC type approval ensures that products using wireless technologies meet the legal minimum requirements in Taiwan. Telecommunication devices and other electronic products that use radio technologies must comply with regulatory and technical requirements before they can be marketed in Taiwan. The responsible authority is the National Communications Commission, which was established on February 22, 2006 and originally belonged to the Directorate General of Telecommunications (DGT).

BSMI Certification

BSMI approval is mandatory for certain products that are exported to Taiwan and sold on the Taiwanese market, as well as for some locally manufactured products. BSMI stands for Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, the Taiwanese authority responsible for standardization, metrology, and product inspection. The BSMI manages product approval procedures defined in the Commodity Inspection Act.

ITRI Certification

To ensure user safety, certain explosion-protected electrical equipment must obtain ITRI certification before installation and operation in Taiwan. The responsible organization is the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which was appointed in 2012 by Taiwan’s authority for occupational safety and health to conduct type testing for explosion-protected electrical equipment. For some products, ITRI certification is not mandatory if a valid IECEx System or ATEX Directive certification is already available.

BIS Certification

For exports to India, manufacturers require BIS certification (ISI) under the Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS) or BIS registration under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS) for a wide range of products before they can be imported and sold on the Indian market. Certification or registration is issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and ensures that products meet the applicable Indian Standards (IS) for quality, safety, and reliability.

PESO Certification

PESO certification refers to registration with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation in India and represents the mandatory approval program for equipment used in the oil and gas industry. Previously known as the Chief Controller of Explosives (CCOE) approval, PESO certification is based on the Explosives Act of 1884 and the Petroleum Act of 1934, as well as related regulations such as the Explosives Rules of 2008 and the Petroleum Rules of 2002.

AIS Certification

AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, which define the technical automotive standards in India. The regulatory framework is based on the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR). These regulations define the requirements under which automotive products can obtain a Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for the Indian market. The TAC certificate is required for automotive products and components that must comply with specific technical and safety requirements.

WPC Certification

The WPC certification is a regulatory approval for wireless devices in India and serves to protect consumers and regulate radio frequency usage. The responsible authority is the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing, which operates under the Ministry of Communications. Products using wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or RF modules may require WPC approval before entering the Indian market.

TEC Certification

TEC stands for Telecommunication Engineering Center, the authority responsible for telecommunications product certification in India. TEC manages certification according to the MTCTE (Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecommunication Equipment) regulations, which require telecom devices to undergo mandatory testing before being marketed in India.

FSSAI Food Certification

Food products in India are subject to various certification and approval procedures. Every food import must be registered by the importer with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The registration process is defined in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations of 2017, which regulate the safety and quality of food products imported into India.

CDSCO Certification

India’s rapidly growing medical device market presents significant opportunities for manufacturers. However, medical devices must comply with regulatory requirements and obtain approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) before they can be sold in India. The CDSCO approval is mandatory for many medical devices and healthcare products.

DGMS Approval

The Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) is a regulatory authority under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of workers employed in the Indian mining industry, including coal, metal, and oil mining.

Battery Waste Management and EPR

To ensure the safe and environmentally responsible recycling of used batteries in India, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. These new regulations replace the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 and introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements for battery manufacturers and importers.

Pre-Shipment Inspection India

Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) is a mandatory inspection process for metal scrap that is intended to be exported to India. The responsible authority is the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which regulates and monitors the import of metal scrap in accordance with Indian laws and regulations.

KC Certification

KC certification (KC Mark – Korea Certification) is a product certification that confirms compliance with Korean safety standards. The certification ensures that products placed on the Korean market meet national safety requirements and helps identify and reduce potential risks to consumer health and safety.

KCs Certification for Explosion-Protected Equipment

KCs explosion protection certification is a mandatory approval for explosion-protected electrical components in South Korea. This certification is required by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

KCs Certification for Machinery

The KCs certification (sometimes referred to as KCs Mark certification or KOSHA certification) is the main approval for potentially hazardous machinery and personal protective equipment in South Korea. However, the KCs certification for machinery should not be confused with KC Safety certification, which applies to consumer products.

KC EMC Certification

KC EMC certification verifies the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electronic devices and products using wireless technologies for the South Korean market. Most electronic products in the information technology, communication, and telecommunications sectors sold in Korea require KC EMC registration. This confirms that the products meet EMC requirements and are safe for users.

KC Safety Certification

KC Safety certification (KC Mark – Korea Certification) confirms that consumer products comply with Korean safety standards. The primary objective of the certification is to ensure product safety and protect consumers by identifying and reducing potential safety risks.

KGS Factory Approval

KGS factory approval is issued by the Korea Gas Safety Corporation and represents the general export authorization for manufacturers of approved categories of pressure equipment for the Korean market. Without KGS certification, relevant pressure equipment cannot be imported into South Korea. Compliance is verified by customs authorities during import procedures.

MFDS Certification

The MFDS certification applies to medical devices in South Korea. The responsible authority is the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), which oversees the approval and supervision of medical devices. All medical devices must be registered or approved by the MFDS before they can be imported, marketed, or sold in South Korea.

PSE / PSC Certification

PSC certification (Product Safety Consumer Product Certification) is a mandatory approval for specific non-electrical consumer products in Japan. Its purpose is to ensure product safety by assessing factors such as mechanical stability, accident risks, and potential chemical hazards. Unlike PSE certification, which focuses on electrical and electronic products, PSC certification applies specifically to non-electrical products with higher safety risks.

JIS Certification

JIS certification verifies that products comply with the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). The certification covers industrial and mineral products, data, services, and management systems in accordance with Japan’s Industrial Standardization Act. The standards themselves are issued by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC).

Radio / Telecommunications Approval

TELEC certification (also referred to as MIC certification or Japanese Radio Law approval) is a mandatory approval for radio equipment in Japan. It ensures compliance with the Japanese Radio Law and the Telecommunications Business Law. The certification is issued under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Unlike PSE certification (mandatory for electrical products) or VCCI certification (a voluntary EMC certification), TELEC approval focuses specifically on intentional radio frequency emissions from wireless devices.

CR Certification

CR certification (Conformity Regulation) is a mandatory conformity assessment required for certain products before they can be placed on the market, imported, or distributed in Vietnam. The certification demonstrates that a product complies with the relevant Vietnamese technical regulations, particularly the QCVN (Quy Chuẩn Kỹ Thuật Quốc Gia) standards. These national technical regulations define the safety, quality, and technical requirements that products must meet in order to enter the Vietnamese market.

VR Certification

Manufacturers exporting vehicles or automotive components to Vietnam must obtain VR certification (Type Approval) in accordance with the applicable Vietnamese technical regulations (QCVN standards). The certification is issued by the Vietnam Register (VR) and ensures that products comply with the required safety, quality, and technical standards for the Vietnamese market.

SDoC Certification

Under the SDoC certification (Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity) scheme, manufacturers must ensure that their wireless devices, mobile terminals, or industrial radio solutions comply with Vietnamese regulatory requirements and are properly documented. A structured preparation process, correct product classification, and complete technical documentation are essential for ensuring smooth market access in Vietnam.