10 Key News in the 2024 Certification, Accreditation, Inspection and Testing Industry
I. The Chinese President witnessed the signing of three memoranda of conformity assessment
Under the witness of the Chinese President, China has signed three memorandums of understanding on qualification assessment cooperation with foreign countries, established qualification assessment cooperation mechanisms with Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and Finland, and carried out cooperation on issues of common concern, facilitated bilateral trade, and continuously promoted high-level opening up in the field of market supervision. In addition, in the China Africa Conformity Assessment Capability Enhancement Action, the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with five accreditation institutions in Africa, covering 25 countries and economies including Nigeria and Kenya.
II. The carbon labeling certification system and carbon footprint management system are included in the Decision of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
In 2024, the construction of a product carbon identification certification system and a product carbon footprint management system in China was written into the Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-style Modernization adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, and is an important task deployed by the Central Economic Work Conference in 2024. The Decision stressed that "the establishment of carbon emissions statistical accounting system, product carbon identification certification system, product carbon footprint management system, improve the carbon market trading system, greenhouse gas voluntary emission reduction trading system, and actively and steadily promote carbon peak carbon neutrality."
III. The discipline of inspection and testing has been officially approved and included in the latest vocational education professional directory
On December 12, 2024, the Ministry of Education updated and released the Catalogue of Vocational Education Majors, adding a total of 40 new majors, including 3 vocational education majors, 20 vocational college majors, and 17 vocational undergraduate majors. Among them, the major of Inspection and Testing Technology and Management has been added as a vocational education specialty with a code of 590211, marking a new breakthrough in the construction of the discipline of inspection and testing.
IV. The first China Certification and Accreditation Conference was held in Xiong'an New Area
On June 6, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the State Administration for Market Regulation held the 2024 World Accreditation Day and China Certification and Accreditation Conference in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province. The China Certification and Accreditation Conference is held for the first time, with the theme of "Certification, Accreditation, Inspection and Testing: Innovative Cooperation for the Future". It is positioned as an international exchange and cooperation platform for qualification assessment with Chinese characteristics. Senior officials from 6 international organizations and 5 foreign institutions attended the conference. The conference highlights openness, internationalism, professionalism and authority, aims to face the world, the future and high-quality development, build a communication and dialogue mechanism to support the development of new quality productivity, help Chinese path to modernization, gather domestic and foreign conformity assessment stakeholders, extensively carry out conformity assessment policy discussions, technical exchanges, cooperation negotiations and other activities, and improve the service level, social impact and international status of China's certification, accreditation, inspection and testing.
V. The Action Plan for Building Credibility in the Quality Certification Industry (2024-2026) has been released
On November 26, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation held a special press conference on policy interpretation of the Action Plan for Building the Credibility of the Quality Certification Industry (2024-2026). By the end of 2026, China will establish more than 10 internationally influential brand certification institutions, over 100 nationally influential well-known certification institutions, and a total of over 300 certification institutions above designated size. At the same time, the effectiveness of quality certification has been comprehensively improved, prominent issues in the certification industry have been effectively addressed, certification supervision is precise and effective, certification activities are legal and compliant, certification personnel are professional and dedicated, certification results are authentic and effective, and widely accepted. The credibility evaluation system of the quality certification industry has gradually improved, and the credibility of the quality certification industry has been greatly enhanced.
VI. Five departments jointly issued the Action Plan for Comprehensive Governance in the Field of Inspection and Testing
On August 13, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued the Action Plan for Comprehensive Governance in the Field of Inspection and Testing (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). The Plan targets the rectification of illegal and irregular activities in key areas, and carries out in-depth special rectification of food safety and product quality inspection, special equipment inspection and testing, motor vehicle inspection, construction project quality inspection, and ecological environment inspection and testing, and severely punishes fraud.
VII. The State Administration for Market Regulation has announced the first batch of 5 greenhouse gas approval and verification institutions
The approval and verification of voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction projects (hereinafter referred to as "approval and verification") are important links for the effective operation of the carbon market, and the quality of approval and verification directly affects the quality of carbon trading. The State Administration for Market Regulation, in accordance with the Certification and Accreditation Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Management Measures for Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading (Trial), and the Management Measures for Certification Institutions, has carried out the first batch of qualification approval and verification of institutions in accordance with the principles of rational use of resources, fair competition, convenience, and effectiveness, in accordance with laws and regulations. In June 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the first batch of list of approval and verification institutions, including 5 institutions involved in two fields: energy industry (renewable/non renewable resources), forestry, and other carbon sink types, providing guarantees for the construction of the national greenhouse gas voluntary emission reduction trading market.
VIII. The Action Plan for Accelerating the Promotion of High level Openness in Certification and Accreditation (2024-2030) has been released
On September 12, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation released the Action Plan for Accelerating the Promotion of High level Certification and Accreditation Openness (2024-2030) (hereinafter referred to as The Action Plan). The Action Plan specifically focuses on deploying certification, accreditation, inspection and testing to promote the development of new quality productivity, clarifying the target direction, work path, task measures and guarantee measures for high-level opening of certification and accreditation. We must strengthen research and response to key issues such as insufficient industrial collaboration, differences in institutional comparison, and shortage of international talents, break through key bottlenecks, promote the deep integration of China's certification and accreditation with the international industrial chain and supply chain, and develop in sync with the international qualification assessment system.
IX. 12 products with high security risks included in the mandatory product certification catalog
In 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation issued multiple CCC certification catalog adjustment notices, implementing CCC certification management for 12 high-risk products including lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles, chargers for electric bicycles, helmets for electric bicycle passengers, explosion-proof lamps and control devices, commercial gas combustion appliances, flame-retardant wires and cables, electronic toilets, combustible gas detection and alarm products, water-based interior wall coatings, hoses for gas appliance connections, gas emergency shut-off valves, and electric vehicle power supply equipment. The third-party evaluation method for low-voltage components will be restored to CCC certification.
X. The State Administration for Market Regulation strictly enforces strict management and investigates and punishes non compliant institutions and personnel in the industry
In 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation will strictly carry out "double random, one public" supervision and inspection of certification institutions, as well as on-site verification of the qualification compliance of certification institutions. A total of 38 institutions' qualifications will be revoked, 11 qualifications will be cancelled, 106 economic penalties will be imposed, 3 administrative warnings will be issued, 227 institutions will be ordered to rectify, 230 certification personnel qualifications will be revoked, and 41 qualifications will be suspended. Organize inspections of CCC designated implementation agencies, issue warnings to 3 designated certification agencies, order rectification to 24 designated certification agencies: suspend designated qualifications for 3 designated laboratories, order rectification to 38 designated laboratories, and transfer suspected illegal and irregular clues from 4 designated laboratories to local market supervision departments for further investigation and handling. Organize special rectification in key areas such as motor vehicle inspection and ecological environment monitoring, investigate and punish 3615 illegal and irregular institutions, revoke or cancel the qualifications of 214 institutions, confiscate 35.71 million yuan, and transfer 316 cases to public security and judicial institutions.