The CB System (International Electrotechnical Commission system for electrical product safety testing and certification) is an international scheme operated by the IECEE. Certification bodies of IECEE member states conduct safety performance tests on electrical products based on IEC standards. The test results, in the form of CB test reports and CB test certificates, are mutually recognized across all IECEE member states. The purpose is to reduce international trade barriers caused by the need to meet different national certification or approval criteria. IECEE is the acronym for the International Electrotechnical Commission's Electrical Product Conformity Testing and Certification Organization.

The implementing units of the CB scheme are the National Certification Bodies (NCB) accepted under the IECEE rules, with NCB laboratories being accepted testing laboratories under IECEE rules, known as CB Testing Laboratories (CBTLs). To simplify, the participating countries' NCBs are certified or approved according to IEC standards. In countries where the national standards are not yet fully based on IEC standards, consideration should be given to the declared national differences. However, the prerequisite for the successful operation of the CB scheme is the reasonable coordination between national standards and the corresponding IEC standards.

The CB Certification provides evidence that a representative sample of the product has successfully passed testing, indicating it meets the requirements of relevant IEC standards. Upon successful completion of the test, a CB Test Certificate and the corresponding CB Test Report will be issued for the product. Together, these two documents constitute a passcard, which manufacturers can use to apply for global certification from national certification bodies in any participating CB system country or region, usually without the need for additional testing.

CB is primarily used for conversion certification. Products with a CB certificate can significantly reduce costs and timelines when converting to a specific country's certification, enabling quick entry into new markets. If aiming to sell products in markets that do not have their own certification, a CB certification can be obtained to indicate that the product has received international certification or approval.

　　The role of the CB Certificate

1. Convert international certification certificates

If you have already obtained the CB test certificate and report, you can directly apply for certification in other countries. The certification body of the applicant country will review the CB test certificate and report (including reports on national differences), and may require a small number of samples if necessary. If the review is successful, you can obtain the certification from that country without undergoing additional tests according to the applicant country's regulations and procedures.

So, applications for certifications based on CB test certificates and CB test reports will be given priority processing over other certification applications, and will reduce the application cycle and fees.

2. Convertable to China National Certification Certificates

Based on the CB test report and differential test, issue the China National Product Certification Report, thereby obtaining mandatory or other voluntary certification certificates for electrical products in our country.

3. Directly recognized or approved by other countries

With a CB Test Certificate and CB Test Report, the product can be directly exported to certain countries.

4. Save on costs and time

Before domestic enterprises apply for foreign certifications, if they apply for a CB Test Certificate domestically, as the test is conducted in a domestic CB testing laboratory, not only do they save significantly on costs, but they also reduce the turnaround time for sample submission and document shipping. This allows domestic enterprises to obtain the CB Test Certificate more quickly.

5. Enhance the likelihood of product testing approval

If the company has already obtained a CB test certificate, when applying for certifications in other countries, all or most of the CB test results can be used.

Recognized, it can exempt or reduce the need for re-sending samples for testing, thus saving time and costs; more importantly, the products applied for certification have undergone CB testing domestically, increasing the likelihood of passing the differential testing.

　　CB Certification Product Scope

Currently, the CB scheme covers 14 major categories and 180 types of products, including electronic gaming devices, testing equipment, power cables, capacitors and components, lighting, household goods, protective devices, transformers, office and IT equipment, as well as medical devices. The CB Laboratory (CBTL) is an approved laboratory under the CB scheme, authorized by specific National Certification Bodies (NCB) to conduct product testing and issue test reports. Manufacturers can obtain CB reports and certificates from any National Certification Body in any country and convert them into other safety certificates through the CB scheme of that country's NCB.

　CB Certificate and CB Report

The CB Test Certificate is an official document issued by an authorized NCB under the CB scheme, intended to inform other NCBs that the tested product samples have been deemed compliant with current requirements. The CB Test Certificate should not be used for promotion purposes, but it is permissible to use existing CB certificates as reference materials.

The CB Report is a standardized document that lists the requirements of relevant IEC standards in a detailed checklist format. It provides clear and unambiguous results of all required tests, measurements, verifications, inspections, and evaluations. The report also includes photographs, circuit diagrams, images, and product descriptions. According to the CB scheme, the CB Test Certificate is valid only when provided together with the CB Test Report. If an NCB possesses the necessary testing equipment and technical capabilities, it can assess products based on national differences testing and evaluation from other countries. These additional tests are appended as attachments to the CB Test Report and are typically recognized by other approved NCBs.

　　Key Points for Applying for a CB Certificate

When applying for a CB Test Certificate, please note the following points:

The application for the CB Test Certificate can be submitted by the applicant to any "Certification/Accreditation" NCB that covers the product scope.

- Applicants may be manufacturers themselves or authorized entities representing manufacturers.

- The application may include one or more factories producing products in one or more countries.

- Applicants/manufacturers/factories located in countries without an IECEE member body are required to pay an additional fee of 150 Swiss Francs for each CB test certificate, to cover the operational costs of the system. This fee is collected by the NCB handling the CB test certificate application and will be deposited into the IECEE account.

- Applicants may request the NCB to test products based on the national differences in the countries where the products are sold.

　　Manufacturers seeking product certification in the target market must undergo the following procedures:

- Application submitted to the NCB of the target country;

CB Test Certificate

-CB Test Report (including national variations)

- Provide product samples upon request from the NCB of the target market.

The purpose of requesting samples is to confirm that the product is consistent with the one initially tested by the NCB, and has already accounted for national variations.

National Differences

National differences refer to the discrepancies between a country's standards and the corresponding international standards. All national differences from countries participating in the CB scheme are submitted to the IECEE Secretariat and published in the CB Gazette.