China Compulsory Certification electronic certificate format and other changes including CCC marks have recently been implemented by the China Certification Center for Automotive Products (CCAP). The main contents of the announcement are as follows:
1. Content and style of the new version of the CCC Certificate
- The content and style of the new version of the compulsory certificate can be found in the public documents section of the CCAP official website at www.cccap.org.cn.
- For automobiles and motorcycles certified with single-vehicle certification, the CCC certificate will have additional letters “DC” after the existing 16-digit CCC certificate number, making it 17-18 digits in total, as a special identification.
2. Comprehensive Implementation of Electronic Certificates
- The production and use of CCC certificates and marks must comply with the requirements of the “Management Requirements for Compulsory Product Certification ” and “Management Requirements for Compulsory Product Certification Marks,” as well as relevant documents of CCAP.
- The CCAP will officially implement CCC electronic certificates from January 1, 2024, and will no longer issue paper versions. If certification clients require paper certificates, they must formally apply to the CCAP.
- When certification clients require other language information on certificates, they must apply to the CCAP during the certification process and provide relevant translation information. Translation documents do not have legal validity and must be used together with the product certificate.
- Already issued valid paper certificates can continue to be used. They can naturally transition to electronic versions through changes or renewal upon expiration. Both paper and electronic versions have equal legal validity.
- CCC electronic certificates contain a QR code for certificate queries, linking to the CCAP’s certificate query system. Scanning the QR code directly displays certification information and status.
- Electronic certificates are based on national standards for electronic certificates and requirements of industry standards for certification and accreditation. They use the Open Fixed-layout Document (OFD) file format.
- Professional tools for viewing OFD file formats such as Kingsoft WPS and Suwell OFD Reader can be used to view sub-certificate information and verify the electronic signature information.
3. Regulations for Translation Documents of CCC Certificates
By default, only the Chinese version of the electronic certificate will be issued. If certified organizations require certificates in other languages, the CCAP can provide translation documents (English by default). Translation documents do not have legal validity and cannot be used separately.
4. CCC marks
The CCAP is now printing and distributing CCC marks according to the new standard specifications and traceability coding rules, and will publish anti-counterfeiting identification methods (partially public) and query methods on the official website at www.cccap.org.cn.
5. Implications for manufacturers exporting to China
Manufacturers of certified products should establish and improve their CCC mark management systems according to the “Management Requirements for Compulsory Product Certification Marks.” With valid mandatory product certificates (or self-declarations), manufacturers can purchase standard updated CCC marks from the CCAP, which can be used for all the company’s certified products.
Further information
Read the full CCAP announcement on China Compulsory Certification Electronic Certificate here.
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