On June 9, the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Certification and Accreditation Administration) of China released the English version of the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) Related Provisions and Implementation Rules. This fills the blank of foreign-language editions of CCC certification framework, addresses the long-standing issues of scattered access channels, non-standard content and lack of official interpretations for international stakeholders. It also lays a solid foundation for China’s further advancement of cross-border certification mutual recognition.

Certification serves as a fundamental institutional arrangement that facilitates international trade and economic globalization. As China’s market access system, the CCC is primarily designed to safeguard national security, protect human health, animal and plant safety and the ecological environment, and prevent market fraud. It is overall administered by the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Certification and Accreditation Administration) of China and implemented by third-party certification bodies. Currently, the CCC product catalogue covers 106 types of products across 17 product categories, supported by 8 general implementation rules and 38 product implementation rules, encompassing key areas of foreign trade and public welfare.

The compilation of the English version was carried out with stringent requirements and followed three major principles. First, it adheres to the demand-orientation approach, closely follow the major national strategies and foreign trade development needs, the compilation was based on the latest reform outcomes of the CCC to ensure full consistency with China’s overall opening-up. Second, it focuses on the professional attributes. A dedicated team consisting of international experts and professionals in certification was assembled. Through multiple rounds of interpretation, review and verification, a rigorous, standardized and fully structured English version was finalized. Third, it ensures a full coverage. Tailored to the practical needs of enterprises engaged in foreign trade, the English version includes core provisions, general implementation rules and product implementation rules governing the CCC, ensuring complete coverage of the entire institutional framework.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (National Certification and Accreditation Administration) of China will continue to deepen multilateral and bilateral international cooperation on certification and expand cooperation scenarios, helping overseas parties gain accurate and comprehensive understanding of the CCC. Leveraging international standards and rules, the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Certification and Accreditation Administration) of China will foster a new landscape of mutually beneficial international trade cooperation, and bolster China’s high-standard opening-up and the high-quality development of global trade.