China’s aviation authorities have imposed an emergency ban on air passengers’ carrying substandard power banks, catching many travellers off guard.
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The safety precaution, which went into effect on June 28, two days after being announced by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has triggered questions and concerns.
Here are six points that people travelling to and within China need to know – from which power banks are still allowed, to what can be done with ineligible ones at the airport.
1. What constitutes a ‘substandard’ power bank?
China Compulsory Certification (CCC), also known as “3C certification”, is a mandatory safety and quality-assurance standard for many products sold in China, ensuring they meet specific safety, health and environmental impact standards.
Managed by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, the system legally requires products listed in the 3C catalogue to obtain certification before they can be manufactured, sold, imported or used.
Any power bank without 3C certification – denoted by a mark that can be seen on the surface – is deemed substandard.
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Airports will establish areas for passengers to discard or temporarily store non-compliant power banks, and provide mailing services as required by the CAAC. Passengers can also choose to handle their intercepted power banks during security checks, based on their needs.