Domestic Sales Pass: A Guide to obtaining Certification for Bluetooth Headset Manufacturers

In the current increasingly fierce competition in the Bluetooth headset market, manufacturers not only need to focus on product innovation and quality, but also ensure that their products meet all the certification requirements for domestic sales. These certifications are not only the pass for products to be legally launched on the market, but also an important cornerstone for winning consumers' trust and ensuring market share.

Regarding CCC certification, as a compulsory product certification system in China, not all Bluetooth headphones need to obtain it. Generally speaking, Bluetooth headphones that do not have audio storage and playback functions, as well as power amplifier functions, are not within the scope of CCC compulsory certification. However, starting from August 1, 2023, the State Administration for Market Regulation has included lithium-ion batteries, battery packs and power banks in the scope of CCC certification and set a one-year transition period, which will be officially implemented from August 1, 2024. This adjustment has had an indirect impact on Bluetooth headset manufacturers because for the charging cases often equipped with Bluetooth headsets, if the internal cells/battery packs belong to lithium-ion batteries and battery packs for portable electronic products, they need to be tested and certified in accordance with national standards such as GB 31241. The certification process is strictly carried out in accordance with the provisions of the "Implementation Rules for Compulsory Product Certification - Electronic Products and Safety Accessories". CCC certification, starting from protecting consumers' personal safety and national security, has strict and clear regulations on the electrical safety and working performance of products. For example, products involved in certification need to meet different assessment standards such as GB 4793 and GB 8898. This requires producers to strictly follow national standards during the product design stage to ensure product quality. Meanwhile, manufacturing enterprises also need to have certain production capabilities and quality management systems, such as obtaining ISO 9001 certification, etc. To apply for CCC certification, one needs to complete the following processes in sequence: preparing product materials and samples, selecting a certification body and submitting an application, product testing, review and issuance of certificates, as well as subsequent supervision and inspection. Each step cannot be ignored. Only by passing multiple rounds of reviews can the relevant products obtain the CCC certification certificate and be legally put on the market for sale.

SRRC certification, namely the type approval certification of the National Radio Regulatory Commission, is also a certification item that Bluetooth headset manufacturers must pay attention to. According to the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Radio Management", all radio transmitting equipment must pass this certification. The processing procedure includes document preparation, pre-test and rectification, submission for inspection and laboratory testing, as well as the final review and certification. During this process, it is particularly important to conduct pre-tests and rectifications in advance, which can promptly identify potential issues such as RF power and spurty emissions, avoiding non-conformities during formal testing and thus saving time and costs.

In addition to paying special attention to CCC certification and SRRC certification, the quality inspection report is equally important. For Bluetooth headphones not included in the national compulsory certification product list, the quality inspection report is a powerful proof that the product complies with relevant quality standards and requirements, and it is also an important reference basis for consumers when purchasing products. It can visually present the quality level of the product and enhance consumers' trust in the product.

In addition, if a Bluetooth headset product has Bluetooth functionality, although the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth Special Interest Group) certification is not a mandatory requirement in China, if one wants to use the Bluetooth trademark and related technologies, they need to join the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and obtain the certification. This is conducive to enhancing the brand image and market competitiveness of the product. Only by fully understanding and strictly handling these certifications can Bluetooth headset manufacturers ensure that their products smoothly enter the domestic market and remain invincible in the fierce market competition.