When China joined the WTO in December 2001 it had to reform its certification system and introduced the Chinese Compulsory Certification scheme (CCC - marking) on 1 August 2003. The Chinese AQSIQ (State General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine) and more specifically the CNCA (Certification and Accreditation Administration) and the CQC (China Quality Certification Centre) are in charge of the implementation and administration of the certification procedure. As the CCC applies to both domestic and imported goods, it is by definition in conformity with WTO requirements.

 
Chinese Compulsory Certificate (CCC)
 
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European industry has experienced problems with the new CCC system and has been suffering under serious financial and administrative burdens. The two main complaints about the CCC are that it is too expensive and time-consuming. Annual factory inspections, which are carried out by experts sent from China, are extremely costly and a major cause of delay. We feel that a simplification of the procedures would be extremely helpful for industry and we would like to see the system streamlined and improved through, for example, testing being permitted in Europe, and European bodies carrying out the factory inspections. Chinese Authorities could establish competent contact points in Europe, which would be useful, especially for SMEs not having representation in China.

We submitted our position to the Commission in July 2004 and we very much welcome the co-operation and support of the European Commission on this issue. ORGALIME representatives were involved in meetings with the CQC and the CNCA arranged by the Commission in the Summer 2004 and in November 2004 in Brussels. ORGALIME is monitoring the actions of DG Enterprise on this matter and further meetings are planned for November 2005.

Joint EU - China Seminar on CCC and International Practice on Certification - Brussels, 24 November 2004

EU - China Regulatory Co-operation Dialogue

DG Trade - China