Supplement VII to CEPA

The Supplement VII to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) signed between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) governments in May 2010 includes liberalization measures of the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System and to help testing organizations in Hong Kong to become recognized testing organizations under international multilateral systems on mutual recognition of testing and certification that are open to national member bodies (such as the IECEE/CB system).

1. CEPA clauses

CEPA clauses relating to certification and accreditation

• Liberalization of Trade in Services

To allow testing organizations in Hong Kong to cooperate with designated Mainland organizations to undertake testing of products for the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System on a pilot basis, for selected products listed in the CCC Catalogue and processed in Hong Kong (i.e. the processing facilities are located in Hong Kong).  These testing organizations have to be accredited by the accreditation body of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (i.e. the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS)) to be capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System.  Cooperation arrangements should comply with relevant requirements in the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation.

• Trade and Investment Facilitation

To actively promote cooperation between Hong Kong's testing laboratories and Mainland's certification bodies which are members of international multilateral systems on mutual recognition of testing and certification that are open to national member bodies (such as the IECEE/CB system), so that Hong Kong's testing laboratories can be recognized under these multilateral systems. (For details, please visit the website at Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification)

2. China Compulsory Certification (CCC) Testing

1. Toy
2. Switches, protective devices and connection devices for electrical installations
3. Information technology equipment
4. Lighting apparatus

• Apply to products “processed in Hong Kong (i.e. the processing facilities are located in Hong Kong)”. From the perspective of certification, site inspection of the processing facilities in Hong Kong can help certification bodies to make conformity assessment.

• The capability requirements for performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System are stipulated in Article 11 of the Measures for the Administration of Certification Bodies, Inspection Bodies and Laboratories under the China Compulsory Certification System and other relevant regulations (Refer to Number 5).
• Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) will confirm whether the Hong Kong's testing laboratories which wish to apply are capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System, and issue relevant documents to the laboratories which are confirmed to have met the requirements.
• HKAS will conduct annual assessment on the laboratories which have been confirmed to have satisfied the requirements with a view to confirming their continued compliance. If any of the Hong Kong's testing laboratories are found to be no longer meeting the requirements after assessment, HKAS will immediately notify Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA).

1. Testing laboratories in Hong Kong to which Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) has issued qualification confirmation documents may propose their intent for cooperation to designated certification bodies under the CCC System.
2. The designated certification body under the CCC system will discuss the cooperation with Hong Kong's testing laboratory on its own initiative under the principle of consistency and validity of testing.
3. Should they agree to cooperate, the cooperation agreement to be concluded must be submitted to CNCA for approval. Such agreement can only be signed and take effect after CNCA has confirmed its compliance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation and relevant requirements under CEPA. Note: The approval does not involve accreditation of the qualification of the testing laboratory.
4. The designated certification body under the CCC system should submit the duly-signed cooperation agreement to Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA) for record.
5. CNCA will publish a list of Hong Kong's testing laboratories which have entered into cooperation agreements with designated certification bodies under the CCC System in its official website.
6. Upon receipt of a notification from HKAS that a testing laboratory in Hong Kong no longer meets the requirements, CNCA will notify the relevant designated certification body under the CCC system, which will make adjustments to its cooperation with such laboratory accordingly and report the results to CNCA.

Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) will confirm whether Hong Kong's testing laboratories are capable of performing testing for the relevant products under the CCC System according to the regulations as follows.

A. Relevant requirements in Article 11 of the Measures for the Administration of Certification Bodies, Inspection Bodies and Laboratories under the China Compulsory Certification System.

For details, please click:
http://www.cnca.gov.cn/rjwzcfl/flfg/bmgz/555.shtml

B. Relevant implementation rules for the CCC

Information Technology Equipment

1. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Information Technology Equipment

Lighting Electrical Appliances

1. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Lighting Electrical Appliances

Switches for circuits, installation protective and connection devices

1. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Switches for Circuits, Installation Protective and Connection Devices - Plugs and Socket-outlets for Household and Similar General Purpose
2. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products –Switches for Circuits, Installation Protective and Connection Devices - Switches for Household and Similar Fixed-Electrical Installations
3. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Switches for Circuits, Installation Protective and Connection Devices - Plugs and Socket-outlets for Industrial Purpose
4. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Appliance Couplers for Household and Similar General Purpose
5. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Switches for Circuits, Installation Protective and Connection Devices - Thermal-links
6. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Switches for Circuits, Installation Protective and Connection Devices - Enclosures for Accessories for Household and Similar Fixed Electric Installations
7. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Cartridge fuse-links of miniature fuses

Toy products

1. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Cycles, Ride-on Vehicles and Similar Products for Young Children
2. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Electric Toys
3. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Plastic Toys
4. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Metal Toys
5. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Projectile Toys
6. Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification of Electrical and Electronic Products – Doll Toys

For details, please click:
http://www.cnca.gov.cn/cnca/rdht/qzxcprz/ssgz/4728.shtml

C. China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) Guidance on the Application of Accreditation Criteria

‧ Electrical products

1. Guidance on the Application of Laboratory Accreditation Criteria in the Field of Electrical Testing
2. Guidance on the Application of Laboratory Accreditation Criteria in the Field of Electromagnetic Compatibility Tests

‧ Toy products

1. Guidance on the Application of Laboratory Competence Accreditation Criteria in the Field of Chemical Testing (Applicable to toy chemical items)
2. Guidance on the Application of Laboratory Competence Accreditation Criteria in the Field of Toy Testing
3. Guidance on the Application of Laboratory Accreditation Criteria in the Field of Electrical Testing (Applicable to electric toys)

For details, please click:
http://www.cnas.org.cn/col771/col783/col789/index.htm1?colid=789

D. Hong Kong Accreditation Service Accreditation Criteria

1. Regulations for HKAS Accreditation (HKAS 002)
2. Technical Criteria for Laboratory Accreditation (HOKLAS 003)
3. HOKLAS Supplementary Criteria No. 45
4. Other Relevant HKAS Supplementary Criteria

For details, please click:
http://www.itc.gov.hk/en/quality/hkas/publication.htm

If you would like to search the list of designated certification bodies under the CCC System, please click:
http://www.cnca.gov.cn/cnca/rdht/qzxcprz/jcjggljg/4731.html
(Only Chinese version is available)

For enquiry on CCC testing and certification, please contact:

Hong Kong Accreditation Service
Telephone: (852) 2829 4826
Fax: (852) 2824 1302
Email: kwchen@itc.gov.hk