As of the end of 2024, China's State Administration for Market Regulation has issued over 4.158 million valid certification certificates, covering nearly 1.1 million certified organizations. These certifications include key labels like CCC (China Compulsory Certification), green product certifications, and organic product certifications, all of which play a vital role in building a safer, higher-quality consumer environment.
To stay ahead of potential risks, market regulators have been closely addressing consumer concerns and reinforcing safety standards. For instance, last year, the dynamic adjustment mechanism for CCC certification was enhanced, and high-risk items like lithium batteries and chargers for electric bicycles were brought under the strict oversight of CCC certification. In addition, third-party evaluation methods were reinstated for low-voltage components to further safeguard quality.
To tackle safety risks in electric bicycles, the department has taken decisive action, suspending or revoking over 10,000 CCC certification certificates for electric bicycles that didn't meet mandatory national standards in 2024. Moreover, the verification of CCC certification products on e-commerce platforms soared to 240 million checks, marking a 135% increase year-on-year, successfully intercepting over 13 million instances of non-compliant products.
In order to uphold the integrity of the certification process, authorities also conducted rigorous audits of certification agencies, revoking the qualifications of 38 agencies and imposing penalties on 106 others. The average pass rate for CCC-certified products in national supervision spot checks between 2022 and 2024 reached 93.9%, reflecting a 1.2% improvement from previous years.
Meanwhile, local market regulators are ramping up safety inspections and spot checks for electric bicycles and accessories, ensuring compliance from production to sales and cracking down on illegal activities, such as the sale of unapproved products, non-certified goods, and illegal modifications to electric bikes. These efforts have proven essential in reducing safety risks in the electric bicycle sector.
Excitingly, the new electric bicycle standards are set to take effect in September, bringing significant upgrades in areas such as vehicle quality, motor power, fire safety, and product consistency. These improvements will enhance the riding experience and help keep everyone safer.
To allow manufacturers time to adjust, the new standards will offer an 8-month transition period. From now until August 31, 2025, producers can choose to follow the old or new standards. After that, all new electric bicycles must meet the updated requirements. There's also a 3-month grace period for bikes produced under the old standards, allowing them to be sold until November 30, 2025.
As we move towards safer city rides, it's clear that manufacturers must produce compliant products, but consumers also play a crucial role. Raising awareness about traffic safety is just as essential because dangerous riding remains one of the leading causes of accidents.