What is 3C/CCC, and why does it matter for power banks?

CCC is Mainland China's mandatory product certification system. SAMR Announcement No. 10 of 2023 added lithium-ion batteries and battery packs used in electronic and electrical products, power banks, and power adapters/chargers for telecom terminal products to CCC management. For power banks, the listed product category code is 0914. Typical products include portable chargers, portable energy-storage power supplies and camping power stations. The notice describes them as movable power supplies of no more than 18 kg, containing lithium-ion cells and/or battery packs, with AC/DC input and output.

Reader takeaway: do not treat the CCC mark as a decorative icon. It should connect to the product model, certificate status, manufacturer information and Wh label.

Hard compliance dates for power-bank CCC certification in China

From August 1, 2023, designated certification bodies began accepting CCC certification applications for these products. From August 1, 2024, power banks without a CCC certificate and certification mark must not leave the factory, be sold, imported or used in other business activities.  From August 15, 2025, CNCA-C09-02:2025, the standalone trial implementation rule for power banks, lithium-ion batteries and battery packs, took effect. Valid existing certificates can transition naturally when they are renewed, changed or updated for new standards.

What should a buyer or merchant check on a CCC power bank?

Most consumers do not need to read the full certification file, but they should check four practical items: whether the product body or minimum sales package has a clear CCC mark; whether the certificate number can be checked on the national certification information platform or the issuing body's platform; whether the model, specification and manufacturer/producer match the certificate; and whether the product has been recalled or the certificate has been suspended or withdrawn. In 2025, SAMR launched centralized quality and safety rectification for power banks, covering CCC certification supervision, online sales inspection, recalls and platform responsibilities.

•  Product body or minimum sales package has a clear and permanent CCC/3C mark.

•  Certificate number, issuing body and certificate status can be verified.

•  Model, specification, Wh rating and manufacturer/producer are consistent across product, certificate and sales page.

•  Recall status and certificate status are checked before sale, rental or travel use.

CCC traceability QR codes: why 2026-2027 matters

CNCA Announcement No. 27 of 2025 says that the CCC mark for pilot products such as power banks should be accompanied by a traceability QR code on the right side of the mark, close to it and not separated from it. The code pattern should be clear and complete. When the public or regulators scan it, it may show information such as certificate number, producer name, product specification/model, certificate status and issuing body. From March 1, 2026, newly certified products in the pilot scope must show the traceability QR code before factory release, sale, import or business use. From March 1, 2027, all certified products in the pilot scope must comply.

Publishing note: sample labels and demo QR codes must be clearly marked as sample-only to avoid being mistaken for real certification documents.

Bringing a power bank on a China domestic flight: CCC, Wh and recall status all matter

On flights within China, power banks cannot be checked in. They must be carried by the passenger or in hand baggage. Power banks rated at no more than 100Wh are normally allowed without airline approval. Power banks above 100Wh but not above 160Wh need airline approval and each passenger is generally limited to two units. Power banks above 160Wh are prohibited. CAAC also restricts unclear markings, in-flight use of power banks, and carrying power banks for non-personal-use purposes. From June 28, 2025, civil aviation implementation added control of power banks with no 3C/CCC mark, unclear 3C/CCC marks, or recalled models/batches on Mainland China domestic flights.

How to calculate Wh: can a 20,000mAh power bank fly?

The formula is simple: Wh = nominal voltage (V) x capacity (Ah). If the label says 20,000mAh / 3.7V, then 20,000mAh equals 20Ah and the rated energy is about 3.7 x 20 = 74Wh, below 100Wh. A 30,000mAh / 3.7V unit is about 111Wh and may fall into the 100-160Wh range that needs airline approval. However, Wh compliance does not guarantee boarding. Domestic flights in China also consider whether the 3C/CCC mark is clear, whether the model or batch has been recalled, and whether the product looks abnormal.

Practical rule: Wh compliance is necessary for flying, but it does not replace the CCC/3C mark, recall-status check or airport/airline on-site instructions.

CCC certificate and QR-code examples: how to show them safely

It is fine for a compliance blog to show an illustration, but do not create fake official certificates or fake official QR codes. Mark illustrations clearly as "sample only" or "illustration only." A practical product display block may include the CCC mark, certificate number, product model, producer/manufacturer, applicable standards, rated energy in Wh, lot number, issuing body and official query methods. A real sales page should use the certificate information and official traceability QR code for your certified model, and the product label, packaging and certificate scope must be consistent.

Use real certificate information only for certified models you actually sell or rent.

•  Do not substitute a demo QR code for an official traceability QR code.

•  Use a visible "sample only" label on educational illustrations.

•  Keep certificate number, QR-code result, model, manufacturer and product label consistent.

Why foreign visitors to China should care about CCC power banks

For foreign visitors, the phone is the center of payment, maps, translation, ride-hailing, hotel check-in, scenic-spot booking and train or flight information. China inbound travel has recovered and grown. The National Immigration Administration reported 82.035 million foreign border crossings in 2025, up 26.4 percent year on year, including 30.08 million visa-free foreign entries, up 49.5 percent. Official tourism messaging also cited more than 150 million inbound trips to China and inbound-tourism spending above USD 130 billion in 2025. That makes questions such as "Can I bring a power bank to China?" and "Can a China-bought power bank fly domestically?" highly practical search topics.

3C in Asian countries: can China CCC cover Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or India?

No. CCC/3C is a Mainland China mandatory certification system, not an Asia-wide certificate. Electrical goods sold in Japan commonly need to consider PSE. South Korea uses the unified KC certification mark and category-specific safety rules. In Taiwan, power banks are regulated products subject to BSMI inspection. India's BIS CRS list includes power banks for use in portable applications. Cross-border sellers should not describe China CCC as "Asia-wide certification" and should not use a China certificate as a substitute for local mandatory certification in another target market.

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