China CCC Certification: UL Can No Longer Conduct Factory Audits at U.S. Manufacturing Sites
17. August 2026Manufacturers in the United States holding CCC Certifications (China Compulsory Certification) or are facing significant changes to their factory audit procedures. Since August 5, 2026, U.S.-based certification bodies are no longer permitted to conduct post-certification factory surveillance inspections on behalf of Chinese CCC certification bodies. This particularly affects manufacturers whose audits were previously performed by UL Solutions.
On August 5, 2026, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) announced that Chinese designated CCC certification bodies must immediately suspend the practice of commissioning U.S.-based certification organizations to conduct post-certification factory surveillance inspections in the United States.
The decision took effect immediately.
UL factory audits for CQC certifications in the USA suspended
The development has a particularly significant impact on manufacturers working with the China Quality Certification Centre (CQC).
For many years, UL Solutions has been one of the central organizations conducting factory inspections in the United States on behalf of CQC. Numerous U.S. manufacturing facilities with CCC certification have therefore been accustomed to having their regular surveillance audits carried out locally by UL auditors.
Following the new regulatory decision, UL has been instructed by CQC to suspend ongoing and already scheduled CCC and CQC inspection activities in the United States until further notice.
The official Chinese announcement specifically addresses follow-up factory inspections within the mandatory China Compulsory Certification (CCC) system. In current certification practice, however, manufacturers with relevant CQC Voluntary Certifications may also be affected by the changed audit arrangements.
CCIC is currently not an alternative for U.S. factories
The restriction is not limited to UL.
Other organizations that conduct CQC factory inspections outside China cannot simply take over audits at U.S. manufacturing sites. This also affects CCIC, which conducts CQC audits in various regions, including Europe, and has operations in the United States.
For U.S. factories, audits therefore currently need to be coordinated directly with CQC in China rather than being transferred to another U.S.-based inspection organization.
Companies with upcoming CCC audits should act quickly
The change is particularly critical for manufacturers whose annual surveillance inspection was scheduled for the coming weeks or months.
Regular factory surveillance is an important requirement for maintaining certification. CQC’s certification rules generally require certified manufacturers to undergo the prescribed surveillance activities within the applicable deadlines. Failure to complete required factory inspections can ultimately affect the status of the respective certificates.
Manufacturers should therefore not simply wait for previously scheduled UL audits to be rescheduled. Instead, they should clarify the further procedure with CQC as soon as possible.
Depending on the individual certification, this may include:
- coordination of a new audit arrangement directly with CQC,
- clarification of existing audit deadlines,
- rescheduling inspections that had already been planned with UL,
- coordination of auditors and travel arrangements,
- and clarification of the impact on existing CCC or CQC certificates.
MPR supports manufacturers in coordinating audits with CQC
The sudden suspension creates considerable organizational challenges, especially for companies with several certified production sites or audits already scheduled in the near future.
MPR China Certification GmbH supports manufacturers in identifying an appropriate solution and coordinating the next steps directly with CQC.
This includes communication with the responsible CQC departments, clarification of certification and audit deadlines, organization of alternative factory inspection arrangements and, where required, preparation and support during the audit itself.
Manufacturers with CCC certifications, CQC Voluntary Certifications or upcoming UL factory audits in the United States should review their current audit schedules promptly.
MPR can support affected companies in communicating with CQC and in organizing the required factory inspections in order to minimize delays and risks to existing certifications.
For more information on how CCC certification, Battery Registration for China, the CCC Self-Declaration and voluntary CCAP or CQC certification may affect your company, or for more information about CCC certification in general, please visit our News Section where you will find current updates twice a week.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details and consultation. You can contact us via email, Chat, or call us (UK: +44 207 442 5945, Europe: +49 69 2713769150, US: +1 773 654-2673).
You can also check our free CCC-Brochure, which can be downloaded as a PDF file. The brochure also contains information on the CCC Self-Declaration and the voluntary CQC- and CCAP-Certification).
