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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, November 20, 2001

China to Unify Compulsory Certification Systems: Official

China plans to integrate its two compulsory inspection systems into a single procedure as part of its commitment for entry into the World Trade Organization. Two symbols used by the two systems, namely "CCIB" (for safety approval) and "CCEE" (Great Wall approval), will also be unified and replaced by the symbol "CCC" ( China Compulsory Certificate).


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China plans to integrate its two compulsory inspection systems, one to check contents of products for import and export, and the other for quality control, into a single procedure as part of its commitment for entry into the World Trade Organization.

Li Huailin, director of China Import and Export Quality Certification Center , said the two symbols used by the two systems, namely "CCIB" (for safety approval) and "CCEE" (Great Wall approval), will also be unified and replaced by the symbol "CCC" ( China Compulsory Certificate).

Regulations on the change have been formulated and will be issued very soon, said the director.

"After China formally joins the World Trade Organization, consumers in China will no longer see the symbols 'CCIB' and 'CCEE ' on products, as they will be replaced by 'CCC'," he said.

The world trade body passed a decision on China's membership earlier this month, and China will be a full WTO member in mid- December.

Two Systems Overlap
The two systems overlap with each other in many aspects. However, since they belong to two different State administrations, each does not admit those enterprises that have gone through the other.

This has caused a great deal of inconvenience for enterprises, especially for those dealing in both the domestic market and foreign trade.

Normally, The two systems carry different national quality standards, which has led to complaints from overseas businesses of discrimination.

What's more, imported products have to go through the two similar, but independent, systems: while entering China, they should be examined in accordance with the system of inspection and quarantine authority, and to be allowed to be sold on the Chinese markets, the authentication of the quality supervision authority is a necessity.

In August, the State Council pushed for the previous two independent quality supervision authorities and quarantine authority to become the ministerial-level State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine.

This has paved the way for combining the two systems.

New Commission
The newly established China National Regulatory Commission for Certification and Accreditation is in charge of all matters concerning certification and accreditation.

In a bid to provide convenience to domestic and foreign enterprises, China is to unify its two separate quality authentication systems, said Wang Fengqing, director of the newly established China National Regulatory Commission for Certification and Accreditation.

"This shows that China is acting in accordance with international practices,'' said State Councilor Wu Yi at a ceremony to mark the birth of the commission in Beijing August 29.




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