The CCC Mark (China Compulsory Certification) is the Chinese equivalent of the American UL mark or the European CE mark, but with a reputation for being significantly more rigorous to obtain.
If you are manufacturing equipment or parts in the U.S. and plan to export them to the People’s Republic of China, this mark is not optional for listed products. It is a statutory requirement for safety and quality. Without it, your cargo will be seized at the Chinese border or returned to the origin at your expense.
What Machinery Requires CCC?
Not every piece of iron needs a CCC mark, but the scope is wider than many shippers realize. While a complete, massive mining excavator might not fall under the catalog, many of its critical components do.
- Automotive components: If you are shipping trucks, dumpers, or road-legal chassis, key parts like tires, safety glass, brake hoses, and seatbelts must have their own CCC certification.
- Small machinery: Smaller agricultural machinery, electric tools, and welding machines often fall directly under the mandatory catalog.
- Electronics: Control panels, switches, and wires used within the machinery are often subject to CCC.
Certification Process
Unlike some certifications, where you can simply test a sample and buy a sticker, the CCC process is intrusive. It typically involves:
- Type testing: Sending actual product samples to a Chinese laboratory for destruction/safety testing.
- Factory inspection: Chinese auditors must physically visit your manufacturing facility in the U.S. (or wherever the factory is) to inspect your quality management systems. This is an expensive and time-consuming step.
- Follow-up: Annual audits are required to maintain the certification.
CCC Exemption for Heavy Industry
There are narrow exemptions that logistics managers should know. If you are shipping a small volume of parts solely for End Use (maintenance and repair of existing equipment) and not for resale, you may qualify for a CCC Exemption (or 3C Exemption).
You must apply for this with Chinese customs before the goods ship. If granted, you can bypass the marking requirement, but the paperwork must be flawless. If you try to sneak 500 tires in as maintenance when you only have two trucks in the country, you will face severe penalties.