On June 26, the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued an emergency notice. Starting from June 28, passengers are prohibited from carrying power banks that do not have the 3C logo, have unclear 3C logos, or have recalled models or batches on domestic flights. The notice mentioned that since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent incidents of fire and smoke caused by lithium battery products such as power banks carried by passengers on board the aircraft. Recently, many top brand power bank manufacturers have recalled multiple batches of products due to safety risks in their batteries. The State Administration for Market Regulation has revoked or suspended the 3C certification of multiple power bank and battery cell manufacturers.
Ifeng Technology has noticed that a number of power bank products without the 3C logo are still being sold on e-commerce platforms. For example, in the Bases flagship store on Taobao, a power bank is on sale called "Base Mingdian Power Bank 10000 mAh Ultra-large Capacity Self-Contained Cord Fast Charging Power Bank", model number PPMD10. There is no 3C certification mark on the product details page and the power bank packaging.
Picture | Source: Taobao Baseus flagship store
Does this power bank have 3C certification? Customer service on the official website said: "The national compulsory 3C certification was only released in the second half of last year, so there may be products without the 3C logo before. However, our products have always complied with national safety standards, so you can rest assured."
In addition, on JD.com, a product called "Xiaomi (MI) Xiaomi Power Bank 10000 Pocket Version with Cable Two-way Fast Charging Power Blue Gray" priced at 89 yuan in Xiaomi JD.com's self-operated flagship store is suspected to have had its 3C certificate revoked.
Picture | A Xiaomi power bank on sale, suspected of having its 3C certification revoked
The product details page shows that the power bank model is P15ZM and is a national supplement product. It has sold more than 2 million units so far. Ifeng Technology inquired the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation and found that the 3C certification certificate number corresponding to the power bank is CQC22001368599. The certificate was originally valid until November 23, 2027, but was marked as "withdrawn" on February 19, 2024; the manufacturer is Jiangsu Zimi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.
Picture｜A Xiaomi model P15ZM is suspected to be a product without 3C certification
In response to this issue, the customer service staff responded: "Power banks with a production date before August 1, 2024 do not have 3C certification. 3C certification was not mandatory at that time; those produced after August 24 are all with 3C certification. (The sales date does not represent the production date, the production date can be seen on the back of the packaging box)."
As for whether products without mandatory 3C certification can be sold after the certificate is revoked, and how to check the production date of the power bank, the customer service staff said: The production date of the product cannot be checked online at present; the production date of some products can be viewed near the white barcode on the packaging box (usually located below the barcode on the packaging box).
Coincidentally, another power bank in the same store, "10000 22.5W Apple 20w Charging PD Two-Way Fast Charging Silver" priced at 75 yuan, seems to have the same problem.
Ifeng Technology also found that customer service on different platforms gave different answers to the same question. On Pinduoduo, the store "Xiaomi Brand Good Products" sells a "Xiaomi Power Bank 20,000 mAh Portable Large Capacity 18W Two-Way Fast Charging Power Bank" with slogans such as "618 Final Return to Factory" and "Limited Time Flash Sale".
In response to Phoenix Technology's question "whether this product has 3C certification", customer service responded: According to national regulations, all mobile power supplies produced by Xiaomi have passed 3C certification since January 1, 2024, and a test report has been given.
According to the information in this report, ifeng.com Technology inquired and found that the product model is PLM18ZM and the 3C certificate number is SMQPV202115010008. On the certification and accreditation information public service platform of the State Administration for Market Regulation, it is shown that this product has been withdrawn as early as September 18, 2023.
In response to the question "Can products with invalid 3C certificates continue to be sold?", according to ifeng.com Technology, if the power bank was produced before August 1, 2024, if it obtained the 3C certification at that time, but the subsequent certification was cancelled, whether it can continue to be sold will need to be determined by the certification agency