What “product licensing” means in China

A Chinese product license is typically not required for products sold directly to consumers from overseas, as these are considered “one-off” sales. An exception to this rule is electrical goods. The certification standard for electrical goods is CCC. Most international electrical goods already have this certification.

When a Chinese product licence is usually needed

As with any country's Customs, China will inspect and seize goods that do not meet local standards. This does not often happen to goods sold directly to consumers from an overseas company.

The central question is whether the product is sold directly by a Chinese business, e.g., a wholesaler, retailer, or Chinese online store. Local Product Licensing must be in place.

Many products will not require Product Licensing in China. To help the Chinese authorities and local retailers understand your products, make your testing certification (e.g., EU certification) available online.

Quick guidance

• Direct-to-consumer “one-off” overseas sales often do not need a China product licence (common exception: electrical goods).
• If a Chinese business sells your product inside China (wholesaler/retailer/online store), local product licensing may be required.
• Customs can inspect and seize goods that do not meet local standards.
• Provide overseas testing/certification documents online to help partners and authorities understand compliance.
• B2B importers typically handle customs paperwork and may need to arrange local licensing before shipments begin.
• If you use multiple distribution channels, licensing can help products move more freely through customs.

B2B vs. B2C responsibility

As covered in Business-to-Business (B2B), it is the importer's responsibility to arrange the correct paperwork for Chinese Customs. They may need to arrange Chinese Product Licensing before you start exporting to China.

If you plan to utilise multiple distribution channels, you may need to arrange for the product to be licensed in China. Once the licensing is agreed upon, Customs will have access to the information, and products should move freely through Chinese Customs.

Time and testing requirements

The product licensing process can be time-consuming. It will depend on the testing documentation you can provide to the Chinese authorities and whether a recognised international testing organisation performed the testing.

If the testing papers are not acceptable to the Chinese authorities, local Chinese testing may be required, which will incur additional time and expense.