Recently, an incident involving an exploding power bank from a certain brand sparked widespread public concern. The series of accidents stemmed from substandard battery cells supplied by the brand's upstream vendor. Concurrently, the national regulatory authority revoked the brand's power bank's 3C certification... This is a recent news report circulating online. What exactly is the 3C certification mentioned in the article? Below is a brief introduction.

3C stands for China Compulsory Certification, also known as CCC certification. It is a product conformity assessment system implemented by the Chinese government in accordance with WTO agreements and international standards. This system aims to protect consumers, safeguard animal and plant life, preserve the environment, and ensure national security.

Manufacturers of certified products must establish a CCC mark management system, accurately recording and archiving all instances of CCC mark usage. Designated certification bodies shall publish publicly accessible anti-counterfeiting identification methods, accurately document and archive the printing and distribution of standard-specification CCC marks, and ensure traceability back to the manufacturing enterprises of certified products.

The CCC mark comprises three types: standard-specification CCC mark, printed/foil-stamped CCC mark, and electronically marked CCC mark. Products listed in the Compulsory Product Certification Catalog may only be shipped from the factory, sold, imported, or used in other business activities after obtaining compulsory product certification (including self-declaration) and affixing the CCC mark as required.

Its significance manifests across three levels: national, corporate, and consumer.

At the national level, it serves as an effective "market regulatory tool," standardizing market order, protecting public interests, and preventing substandard foreign products that fail to meet China's standards from entering the domestic market.

For enterprises, it is a prerequisite for selling products in the domestic market. Products bearing the CCC mark gain greater trust from distributors and consumers, enhancing market competitiveness. It helps businesses avoid legal risks, as producing or selling non-CCC-certified products listed in the catalog constitutes illegal activity, subject to severe penalties including fines, confiscation of illegal gains, or even license revocation.

For consumers, most importantly, products bearing the 3C mark signify compliance with national standards for critical safety metrics including electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, explosion protection, and fire resistance, safeguarding consumers' lives and property.

Thus, 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. Simply put, it serves as a market access certificate—a product's "safety passport."