Key Information: technical requirements
What technical requirements must my product meet to enter and compete in the Chinese market?
Companies doing business in China need to consider the following technical requirements for the Chinese market:
National Standards
The most widely implemented standards in China are national standards (often referred to as “GB standards”). Chinese national standards can be either mandatory (required by the Chinese government), or recommended (encouraged, but not required by the Chinese government). Products sold in the Chinese market are generally required to have a label indicating which standard(s) have been followed.
Technical Regulations and Other Standards
In addition to national standards, companies may also need to follow industry standards, local standards, association standards, and/or develop their own enterprise standards, although most of them are recommended for voluntary compliance.
The National Public Services Platform for Standards Information, managed by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), is the official database for all categories of Chinese standards (in Chinese only).
There is no central database or directory of technical regulations. The State Council does publish its documents and some technical regulations in its database, but it is not exhaustive. Companies can also consult with their importer or distributor, relevant Chinese trade association, or with their test lab or certification
body to identify which standards or technical regulations need to be followed for a given product or service. Alternatively, companies may submit an enquiry through their national WTO Enquiry Point.
Demonstrating Compliance to Standards and Regulations
Once the relevant standards and technical regulations for a given product or service have been identified, the next step is to determine what (if any) measures are required to demonstrate conformance with those requirements.
The most prominent Chinese mandatory certification is the China Compulsory Certification system (or CCC system). The CCC is a unified national certification and marking scheme that covers several product areas, including toys, electrical products, auto components, medical devices, etc.
Outside of the CCC system, there are may be other product and sector-specific mandatory testing and certification schemes that may be required in China. Companies can consult with their importer or distributor, relevant Chinese trade association, or with their test lab or certification body, to identify which testing and certification schemes need to be followed for a given product or service, and to obtain copies of these requirements.
PRC Standards System: Introduction
