Administrative Measures for Unified Voluntary Certification Systems

Managing regulatory compliance for non-mandatory approvals in China is entering a new phase of regulatory consolidation. Under SAMR Announcement No. 33 of 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation has promulgated the "Measures for the Administration of Nationally Unified Voluntary Certification Systems (Trial)", establishing a single overarching framework for voluntary certification schemes.

This regulation replaces fragmented regional and sector-specific voluntary frameworks with a unified national system. The new measures establish standardized rules across four core operational areas: centralized catalog management, unified certification mark usage, harmonized conformity assessment procedures, and stricter supervisory requirements for accredited certification bodies operating within China.

For international manufacturers, the unification of voluntary certification schemes provides clearer operational guidelines and reduces procedural ambiguities when pursuing voluntary quality, environmental, or performance marks alongside mandatory China Compulsory Certification (CCC) schemes. Compliance teams and product managers should review their current voluntary certification portfolios, ensure that certification bodies managing their active approvals align with the updated accreditation requirements, and verify that all current and planned voluntary marks comply with the new unified marking rules.

If you require support auditing your voluntary certification portfolio, verifying compliance with unified national schemes, or navigating Chinese regulatory frameworks, please contact the team at Eleos Compliance.