Industry Science Popularization
What is the 3C mark?
August 21 2025 Editor Becky Wu
“Recently, a certain brand of power bank exploded, attracting widespread public attention. The incident was caused by substandard battery cells supplied by the brand’s upstream supplier, leading to a series of accidents. As a result, the National Regulatory Authority revoked the 3C certification for the brand’s power banks…” This is a recent news report circulating online. What exactly is the 3C certification mentioned in the article? Let’s take a brief look.
3C stands for China Compulsory Certification, also known as CCC certification or 3C certification. 3C certification is a product conformity assessment system implemented by the Chinese government in accordance with relevant WTO agreements and international rules to protect the safety of consumers, animals, and plants, protect the environment, and safeguard national security.
Manufacturers of certified products shall establish a CCC mark management system and truthfully record and archive the use of CCC marks. Designated certification bodies shall publish publicly available anti-counterfeiting identification methods, truthfully record and archive the printing and distribution of standard-specification CCC marks, and ensure traceability to the manufacturers of certified products.
The 3C mark is divided into three types: standard specification CCC mark, printed/embossed CCC mark, and electronic CCC mark. Products listed in the Compulsory Product Certification Catalog must obtain compulsory product certification (including self-declaration) and affix the CCC mark before they can be manufactured, sold, imported, or used in other business activities.
Its importance is reflected at three levels: the national, corporate, and consumer levels.
From the national level, it serves as an effective “market regulatory tool,” standardizing market order, protecting public interests, and preventing substandard foreign products that do not meet Chinese standards from entering the domestic market;
For businesses, it is a prerequisite for their products to be sold in the domestic market. Products bearing the 3C mark are more likely to gain the trust of distributors and consumers, enhancing market competitiveness. It helps businesses avoid legal risks, as the production and sale of products listed in the 3C certification directory without certification constitute illegal activities, which may result in penalties such as fines, confiscation of illicit gains, or even revocation of business licenses.
For consumers, the most important aspect is that products bearing the 3C mark meet national standards for key safety indicators such as electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, explosion protection, and fire resistance, thereby safeguarding consumers’ lives and property.
As such, it is a product conformity assessment system implemented by the Chinese government to protect consumer safety and national security, strengthen product quality management, and enforce laws and regulations. In simple terms, it serves as a market access certification, akin to a product’s “safety passport.”