If you’re planning a trip around China, get ready for a new rule about your gadgets. Chinese aviation officials just put a ban on power banks that don’t carry a special safety mark. This change started on Saturday, June 28, and applies to all domestic flights. It’s a direct response to several incidents where these portable chargers caught fire.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China, known as CAAC, made the announcement. They stated that passengers can no longer bring power banks onto planes unless the devices show the official China Compulsory Certification, or CCC, mark. This is a big shift for travelers.
What is the CCC Mark?
The CCC mark is China’s mandatory safety certification. It’s required for many products sold there, whether they’re made in China or imported. Basically, if a product doesn’t have this certification, it’s not supposed to be sold legally in the country. Now, it also means it can’t fly on a domestic plane with you.
What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
Under these new rules, if your power bank doesn’t have the CCC symbol, you might face some trouble. Airport staff could take your device away. Or, even worse, you might not be allowed to board your flight at all. It’s a strict measure designed to protect everyone on board.
Why the Sudden Strictness?
China sees a huge number of domestic flights. In 2024, about 730 million people flew within the country. This includes many international visitors traveling locally. Lately, there have been too many scary moments involving power banks.
For example, on May 31, a China Southern Airlines flight had to turn back. It was only 15 minutes into its journey from Hangzhou to Shenzhen. The reason? Smoke coming from a passenger’s camera battery and power bank. Just a couple of months earlier, in March, a Hong Kong Airlines flight from Hangzhou to Hong Kong faced a similar issue. It had to make an emergency landing in Fuzhou. A fire broke out in an overhead bin, and a power bank was the suspected cause. These incidents highlight a serious safety risk.
How Other Airlines Are Handling Power Banks
Some airlines in other parts of Asia already have rules about power banks. Carriers in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, for instance, often ban passengers from using power banks during flights. However, they usually still let you carry them onboard. China’s new rule goes a step further by demanding specific certification just to bring the device on the plane.
Even major power bank manufacturers based in China are facing issues. Companies like Anker and Romoss had to recall over 1.2 million units recently. These recalls happened because of potential battery problems that could lead to fires. Other popular brands, such as Baseus and Ugreen, have also had some of their product certifications suspended or removed. This shows how serious the safety concerns have become across the board.