New GB Standard GB4943.1-2022 for A/V Equipment and IT Products

25. August 2022

Audio, video, information, and communication technology devices are subject to strict regulatory requirements in China and must usually receive a CCC certification. For more than 10 years, Chinese Guobiao Standards GB4943.1-2011 and GB8898-2011 have been defining technical requirements for these products. However, many of these products now fall under the standard GB4943.1-2022.

 

 

GB4943.1-2022 “Audio/video, information and communication technology equipment-Part 1: Safety requirements” became effective retroactively to Aug. 1, 2022, according to Announcement No. 11/2022 issued by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA) on Aug. 2, 2022.  Certified companies are granted a transition period of two years until July 31, 2024 to renew existing certifications to the updated standard.

Numerous products in the audio, video, information, and communication technology sectors are required to have CCC Certification (China Compulsory Certification) for the Chinese market. They include computers, printers, scanners, copy machines, CD players, speakers, keyboards, televisions, monitors, and many more.

The overall modification of the former national standard aligns closely with the international IEC standard IEC 62368-1:2018. Some of the changes in the updated standard include the classification and assessment of various hazard sources, which have now been divided into six categories, namely: Electricity-induced injury, electricity-induced fire, injury caused by harmful substances, mechanical injury, thermal burns, as well as sound and light radiation. GB4943.1-2022 requires appropriate precautions as part of the safety engineering, depending on the hazard source.

The requirements for the safety of battery-powered devices have been expanded, too, especially regarding protection against overcharging, high temperatures, and ignition. Here, the focus lies on avoiding hazards from external metal objects, for example, keys or necklaces.

Further changes concern A/V and ICT devices, which are usually operated outdoors, as well as devices with button cells, specific grounding, and many more.  For example, wireless energy transmitting devices must be able to detect external metal objects and interrupt any energy transmission to them in time.

All of these changes are relevant not only for certified manufacturers of corresponding devices, but also for their customers and involved suppliers.

The Chinese GB Standards and Implementation Rules are regularly updated by the authorities, often having considerable implications for product manufacturers. Updates are usually not announced and must be independently tracked and implemented by certified factories. Failure to do so may result in severe consequences, including cancellation of certification.

MPR China Certification GmbH will inform you as early as possible about any changes to the GB Standards and Implementation Regulations relevant to you. In the case of modifications to the content, we will be happy to check the relevance for you individually. This is enabled through our long-term relationships with the certification bodies and close coordination with the relevant authorities and test laboratories. Our services allow you to focus on your core business by protecting you from potential certification-related consequences in your China affairs.