SRRC certification China: Avoid wireless products customs delays

Key facts about SRRC customs enforcement in China

• Previous customs clearance does not prove SRRC compliance
  Wireless products may enter China several times before being checked. Increased customs enforcement means shipments without the correct SRRC certification and CMIIT ID can still be held at the border.
• Module approval may not cover the finished wireless product
  An approved wireless module does not automatically certify the host device. The antenna configuration, integration method, product category and labelling may require an independent SRRC review.
• Industrial and medical equipment can require SRRC certification
  SRRC requirements are not limited to consumer electronics. Industrial, commercial, professional and medical equipment may fall within scope when they contain Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular or other radio transmission technology.
• A wireless product passing through China can be stopped
  Components entering China for integration and re-export may still face customs checks because their future use may not be verifiable at the border. Manufacturers should confirm the applicable approval route before shipping.
• SRRC, NAL and CCC approvals serve different purposes
  A connected product may require SRRC for radio transmission, NAL for access to public telecom networks and CCC for safety and EMC. One China certification scheme does not replace another.

SRRC customs enforcement: Why wireless products are being stopped at China's border

A product can pass through Chinese customs a dozen times without being compliant, in the same way a car can be driven for months without anyone checking the paperwork. That does not make it road-legal; it just means nobody has looked yet.

That's exactly what's catching manufacturers out right now. SRRC (State Radio Regulatory Commission) certification and the CMIIT (Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) ID it produces, the approval number issued under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and marked on the product label once approval is granted, have been part of China's approval landscape for years. What's changed is enforcement. Customs is now checking products against their approval status far more visibly and far more often, and products that sailed through for years are now getting held.

Where manufacturers get caught out

Four assumptions keep coming up. And each one feels reasonable right up until customs start checking the physical product.

“Our shipments have always gone through fine.” That is not proof of compliance. It is proof nobody checked. Those are different things, and the gap between them only becomes visible once enforcement catches up.

“The module is already approved.” A certified wireless module can help, but it does not automatically cover the finished product. The host device, antenna configuration, integration method, label, and product category all still need reviewing independently.

“We're industrial, so this doesn't apply to us.” Industrial, commercial, and professional products fall into scope just as readily as consumer ones, the moment they contain wireless transmission functionality.

“We'll sort the label later.” By the time customs is looking at the physical product, it can be the detail that stops a shipment moving.

Even manufacturers aware of the requirements are getting caught out.

Wireless products only passing through China are in scope

If a wireless product is only passing through China as a component for integration and re-export, it can still be caught at the border. SRRC wording focuses on products sold and used in China, but customs may not be able to verify future use at the point of entry. If the product enters China at all, even briefly, it is safer to treat it as in scope until confirmed otherwise.

SRRC: What you need to check

Check SRRC first for any product that intentionally sends or receives wireless signals, including industrial and medical equipment using technologies such as:

• Wi-Fi, including Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth
• Cellular, including 4G, 5G and NB-IoT
• RFID, Zigbee, Thread or UWB

Most products need local conducted testing at an accredited Chinese laboratory, covering frequency, output power, bandwidth and emissions. Samples must be able to enter the correct test mode, with the required software, instructions and accessories ready before testing starts.

The CMIIT ID can be released before the final certificate is physically issued, giving manufacturers time to prepare the label before shipment rather than correcting it after customs has raised a flag.

Approval routes into China for wireless products: SRRC v NAL v CCC

SRRC is not the only approval route and two other schemes may also apply:

• SRRC (State Radio Regulatory Commission): Mandatory certification for wireless products with radio transmitting functions sold and used in China.
• NAL (Network Access Licence): Required for telecom terminal equipment connecting to public networks in China, commonly alongside SRRC for cellular products.
• CCC (China Compulsory Certification): Applies to safety and EMC requirements on specific product categories, including IT equipment, power supplies and household appliances.

A connected product may need SRRC, NAL and CCC, as none of them is a substitute for the other.

5 things you should do if you want to ship into China

1. Map the landscape properly. Review and confirm which certification scheme your product falls under, if any.
2. Check whether module approval can be leveraged. For SRRC, this is limited to certain categories such as household appliances, audio-visual equipment and standard IT equipment, so get confirmation before relying on a module's certification and ensure the correct labelling and supporting measures are in place.
3. Get documentation moving early. Product specifications, block diagrams, schematics, antenna information, label artwork, user manuals, module documents, business registration documents and ISO certificates may all be required. Some documents may also need translation into the local language.
4. Confirm test samples and modes are ready. Ensure the correct number of samples in the required configurations are available. For RF testing, this means modified samples that the laboratory can control. Software, instructions and power supplies should be prepared before starting the approval process.
5. Finalise labelling before shipment. Add required marks and certification numbers, such as the CMIIT ID, as soon as they become available.

None of these requirements are new, but clearance is not the same thing as compliance. If your product has any wireless function and is heading to China, the smart move is confirming your approval route before you ship, rather than with Customs at the border.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

Next steps for SRRC certification and smoother entry into China

China customs enforcement is increasing scrutiny of wireless products entering the country, making early compliance planning essential.

TÜV SÜD's Global Market Access (China) team can review your product against SRRC, NAL and CCC requirements, helping reduce the risk of customs delays, rejected shipments and costly rework.

Our Global Market Access specialists provide comprehensive support, including scope assessments, documentation reviews, test sample preparation, labelling guidance and coordination with local TÜV SÜD experts in China.

TÜV SÜD also offers wireless testing and certification, RF testing and wireless coexistence testing to help manufacturers demonstrate compliance and accelerate market access.

Get started with TÜV SÜD

If you want to sell into China, learn how to address SRRC compliance requirements before shipment and accelerate access to the Chinese market.

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