How the world’s largest electronics market in Shenzhen is feeling the warmth from China’s energy financial institution crackdown | USAEMALL.com

Obtaining the CCC mark takes time, effort and money, industry players point out.

Wang Shuhai, the general manager of Nohon, a Hong Kong-headquartered consumer electronics firm with 18 years of experience in replacement batteries, told CNA that CCC certification for a single product can cost around 30,000 yuan to 40,000 yuan.

“That includes testing fees, factory audits and certificate maintenance … on top of that, the battery cells themselves require separate aviation safety certification,” he said.

“The whole process takes about three months.”

CONSUMERS CAUGHT IN THE CRACKDOWN

It’s not just electronics vendors feeling the heat – consumers are also caught in the fallout from China’s crackdown on uncertified power banks. 

A content creator from Shandong, who goes by the username LoseHeart, said he relies on two portable chargers to support his video work. One of them, a Remax-branded device bought from an official Taobao store in March last year, is no longer allowed.

“My wallet’s already thin,” he said. “People’s incomes and budgets are tight. Forcing us to spend more just builds resentment.”

Still, he said he would avoid pricier models moving forward. “I’ll keep it within 100 yuan.”

David Liu, 27, a Taiwanese student in Shanghai, told CNA that both of his portable chargers – an Asus and a Xiaomi – only carry the CE mark, which is valid in the European market but not in China.

He was travelling in Guangzhou when the new aviation policy took effect and tried mailing the devices back to Shanghai. “Before June, I could send the portable charger anywhere in China, so I thought this would work,” Liu said.

But he was unsuccessful as logistics firms had already begun refusing to ship non-CCC-certified devices amid the latest crackdown.

“There wasn’t enough buffer time for the policy to take place, and they also (enforced the ban on) shipping companies from handling uncertified power banks, so a lot of customers had to give up on their portable chargers,” Liu said.