The China Energy Label (CEL) is an energy consumption label for products in China, similar to the EU Energy Label. Manufacturers of specified electronic devices are obligated to attach a CEL label to their goods to inform China-based consumers of the product’s energy efficiency.  The goal of the introduction of CEL is to encourage customers to buy energy-saving products and therefore support the sales of energy-saving electronic devices in China.

Legal Basis

State Law: Energy Conservation Law of the People’s Republic of China, Product Quality Law, Law of the People's Republic of China on Import and Export Commodity Inspection and its implementation rules

Administrative Rules: Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation enacted by the State Council

Department Rules: Administrative Measures on Labeling of Energy Efficiency

Scope

15 batches, covering 41 categories of products such as home appliances, commercial, office electronics and lighting, about 2.3 million product models, including computer monitor, copier, digital TV receiver, printer, fax machine, microcomputer, flat screen TV, TV set top box.

Applicable Standards and Criteria

Products that fall into the above categories must conform with relevant mandatory national standards for energy efficiency, to be granted CEL permission and traded on the Chinese market.

For instance, the mandatory national standards (GB standards) for computer displays and micro computers respectively are:

GB 21520-2015 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for computer monitors

GB 28380-2012 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy grades for microcomputers

Certification Procedures

Manufacturers or importers of the products that fall into the CEL catalogue shall file notification of the energy labels and relevant information with the China Energy Labelling Center (CELC) affiliated to the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS), which is the institution authorised by NDRC and SAMR to implement the CEL certification.

 
Manufacturers or importers could choose to have the products tested against the relevant mandatory national standards at either an accredited testing laboratory or their own testing facilities. Manufacturers and importers shall apply for filing notification before products leaving factories or before importing respectively with the CELC. CELC shall complete the filing notification process within 10 working days since receiving all the documents and notify the sample of CEL within 5 working days since completion of the filing process.

Designated certification bodies and laboratories

Document Checklist

For overseas manufacturers, the following documents are usually required for filing CEL notification:

l   Overseas manufacturers’ business licence or copies of business registration certificate (with company stamps)

l   CEL Filing Notification Company Information Form

l   Copies of the contracts signed between overseas manufacturers and importers

l   Sample of CEL label

l   CEL Filing Notification Form

l   Testing reports for energy efficiency

l   Business licence of importers or copies of business registration certificates

l   Importers’ Company Information Form

l   Brand authorisation letter (if applicable)

l   Registration Form of Testing Laboratories for CEL (manufacturers self-testing)

l   OEM statement for CEL filing notification

Labeling

Sample picture of China Energy Label

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