China CNCA Updates EMC Standard for Household Appliances and Tools

On January 3, 2025, the National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) issued a resolution outlining the upgraded EMC requirements under the GB 4343.1-2024 standard. This update, which applies to household appliances, electric tools, and similar apparatus, introduces new testing methods and limits that manufacturers must meet to maintain Compulsory Product Certification (CCC) approval for the Chinese market. 
The new standard issued on May 28, 2024, will fully replace GB 4343.1-2018 starting from June 1, 2026. Manufacturers and importers need to comply with the new EMC regulations for global market access to China. 
 

Major Technical Shifts in GB 4343.1-2024 

The new edition of GB 4343.1 brings with it a number of technical revisions that affect a broad spectrum of electrical and electronic goods. Below are the major changes: 

1. Expanded Frequency Range for EMC Emissions 
• The frequency range for conducted and radiated emissions testing has been extended to 1 GHz – 6 GHz. 
• Products with active electronic circuits must now undergo testing up to 5×Fx (where Fx is the highest clock frequency), with a maximum of 6 GHz. 

New limits for emissions are established for devices that work in this range.

2. Extra Testing for Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) Devices 
• Induction charging systems and devices with IPT technology are now required to meet more stringent EMC limits. 
• Earlier, only induction cookers were tested under these tests, but now other domestic and industrial IPT-based products are covered. 

3. New EMC Limits for Wired Network Ports 
• Wired network port devices (e.g., smart home devices, industrial equipment, and network devices) now need to adhere to GB/T 9254.1-2021 for emission limits between 150 kHz – 30 MHz.

4. Increased Testing for DC-Powered and Battery-Operated Devices 
• Battery-operated appliances and tools are required to be tested with fully charged batteries in actual operating conditions. 
• In the case of a device intended to be powered from an external DC source, testing should be done with a representative power supply unit.

5. More Stringent Test Configurations for Home Appliances & Power Tools 
• Vacuum Cleaners: Testing now covers new radiation emission measurement configurations for robot and handheld types. 
• Refrigerators & Freezers: Devices with permanently operating lighting need to have additional tests in order to evaluate their EMC behavior. 
• Air Conditioners: Split-unit air conditioners must be tested both indoor and outdoor units, with revised setup conditions for interconnecting cables.  
• Washing Machines: Testing now assesses both normal washing cycles as well as high-spin drying modes. 
• Power Tools: Cordless and corded power tools are required to comply with new conducted and radiated emission limits, especially when they operate at variable speeds. 
 

Implementation Timeline and Compliance Strategy 

The GB 4343.1-2024 standard will be implemented in three phases: 

• May 28, 2024 – Standard officially published. 
• June 1, 2026 – Enforcement begins, requiring all newly manufactured or imported products to comply. 
• Transition Period (13 months after enforcement begins) –Businesses can continue selling current products, but strict compliance becomes mandatory after the grace period. 
Impact on Manufacturers & Importers 
• Manufacturers must conduct supplementary testing on existing CCC-certified products under GB 4343.1-2018 to maintain compliance. 
• Organizations will have to revise EMC compliance strategies to address the new testing scope and emission limits. 
• Supply chains should be ready for potential adjustments to electronic designs to comply with tighter EMC thresholds.

How Nemko Can Help 

It may be challenging to comprehend and adopt these EMC regulation 
• Nemko provides specialized expertise, testing capabilities, and certification assistance to assist manufacturers: 
• Perform pre-compliance EMC testing to confirm products comply with the new limits. 
• Determine design modifications required for compliance with revised CCC certification standards. 
• Enable smooth transition to avoid future market access issues in China. 
 

Require GB 4343.1-2024 compliance help? Reach out to Nemko's EMC specialists today and ensure a smooth transition!