China Revokes 40,000 Power Bank Certificates in Certification Crackdown

China's market regulators have revoked more than 40,000 China Compulsory Certification (3C) certificates for portable power banks and cancelled the operating qualifications of 18 certification bodies, according to state and financial media reports. At a September 18 briefing on quality certification oversight, the State Administration for Market Regulation cautioned consumers about the physical and chemical hazards of lithium-battery products, urging vigilance against overcharging and abnormal heat as authorities tighten scrutiny over manufacturing standards and third-party inspection agencies.

Portable power banks are ubiquitous consumer electronics, but lithium-battery defects pose acute personal and public safety risks, including fires and explosions. The large-scale revocation of 3C certificates and disqualification of certification agencies signal that Chinese authorities are actively targeting lax vetting and irregular testing at the certification source, forcing the consumer hardware supply chain to comply with mandatory technical baselines.

Chinese market regulators have revoked more than 40,000 China Compulsory Certification (3C) certificates for portable power banks and cancelled the qualifications of 18 certification bodies, according to domestic media reports covering a targeted regulatory clean-up. The figures, reported by financial news outlet Yicai, coincide with a press conference held by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) focused on strengthening oversight of quality certification systems across consumer products. At the briefing, Yang Dong, deputy director of SAMR's Certification Supervision Department, outlined the inherent safety hazards associated with lithium-ion power banks. Yang explained that the lithium batteries used in these devices rely on flammable liquid electrolytes with highly active chemical characteristics. Severe physical impact, compression, or the internal growth of lithium dendrites over extended usage can rupture the internal separator, triggering short circuits, thermal runaway, smoke, or open flames. Yang cautioned consumers against prolonged or continuous overcharging, advising users to disconnect devices immediately once fully powered. SAMR also urged users to avoid exposing portable batteries to high temperatures or low-pressure environments, to maintain unused units at approximately half charge for long-term storage, and to immediately cease using any device showing signs of swelling, abnormal heat, or casing deformation. The wave of certificate cancellations reflects a growing push by regulatory authorities to police conformity assessment bodies. Under Chinese law, power banks and lithium-ion battery packs require mandatory 3C certification before they can be legally manufactured, sold, imported, or utilized in commercial operations. While SAMR's briefing detailed consumer precautions and safety guidelines, the revocation of tens of thousands of product certificates points to structural clean-ups within the broader consumer electronics market. As regulatory enforcement moves from initial policy implementation to auditing historical approvals, both testing agencies and electronics manufacturers face heightened pressure to ensure documented safety compliance aligns with physical product performance.