In December 2001, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China issued the Regulations for Compulsory Product Certification.  The Compulsory Product Certification System began to replace the original Quality License System for Commodity Inspection and Safety Certification System for Electrical Equipment.

The abbreviation of China Compulsory Product Certification is CCC or 3C.  It is the statutory compulsory safety certification system and the basic approach to safeguard the consumers' rights and interests and protect the personal and property safety, which is adopted widely by international organizations.

China Compulsory Certification System came into force since May 1, 2002.  In accordance with the joint announcement No.38 [2003] by the State General Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China and the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China, the time for implementing the supervision and management of the market for compulsory product certification was decided on August 1, 2003.

The Products subject to Compulsory Product Certification covers 135 products divided into 20 categories, including household appliances, motor vehicles, motorcycles, safety glasses, medical devices, lighting apparatus, cables and wires...etc.  CQC is appointed to undertake the work of compulsory product certification for 17 categories within the CCC catalogue.