(CHINA) China has started enforcing one of the world’s toughest sets of rules on portable power banks on flights, with a ban on non-compliant devices already in place on domestic routes from June 28, 2025, and even stricter national standards on the way, shaking both producers and frequent flyers across the country.
New CAAC aviation-safety rule: what changed
Under the new aviation safety rule, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) now bans passengers and crew on all domestic flights departing from mainland China from carrying power banks that lack clear 3C (China Compulsory Certification) markings.
Security staff are instructed to stop power banks that:
- Have no 3C logo
- Have labels that are damaged or unreadable
- Belong to models that manufacturers have recalled because of safety problems
The move follows several incidents this year in which lithium-battery products, including portable chargers, reportedly caught fire or released smoke on board Chinese aircraft.
Capacity and carriage rules (summary)
The CAAC rules also specify clear capacity and carriage limits tied to the 3C system:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Number of units per passenger | No more than two power banks |
| Combined capacity per passenger | Cannot exceed 160 Wh |
| Individual unit: under 100 Wh | Allowed without airline notice |
| Individual unit: 100–160 Wh | Requires airline approval before boarding |
| Individual unit: above 160 Wh | Strictly banned from aircraft cabins |
| Certification | Every unit must have valid 3C approval |
These thresholds align with international lithium-battery safety practices but add an extra layer by tying approval tightly to the domestic 3C system.
How enforcement looks at airports
On the ground, enforcement has translated into far tougher checks at security checkpoints:
- Security departments at major airports are stepping up inspections of chargers.
- Officers sometimes ask passengers to power on devices or check serial numbers when labels are unclear.
- Reports and social-media posts show widespread confiscations and airport bins filled with seized power banks.
- Airports have set up temporary storage points where passengers can either abandon non-compliant devices or store them for later retrieval.
Many travelers describe “surprise losses” at checkpoints when labels have rubbed off after months of use.
Domestic rule vs. practice on international routes
Formally, the CAAC rule applies only to domestic flights within mainland China. International and regional flights are governed by a mix of national and airline policies. In practice, however, enforcement often reaches beyond purely domestic routes:
- Passengers at major international gateways (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) report having power banks removed on direct long-haul flights when 3C markings were missing or unclear.
- Security officials rarely explain whether they are acting under the domestic rule or internal safety guidance; the result for passengers is the same—they can lose their power source.
- The strictest checks appear for travelers with mixed itineraries that include at least one domestic leg. Incoming international passengers connecting to domestic flights are typically screened again, and non-compliant power banks are frequently confiscated at that second screening.
This practice has added stress for foreign students, workers, and tourists transiting through China, compounding visa checks, security queues, and language barriers.
MIIT draft national standards: a higher bar
A potentially broader layer of control is being shaped by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is drafting stricter national safety standards for power banks and collecting public feedback.
Key proposals in the draft include:
- Requiring all portable power banks to disclose basic technical and safety details directly on the device or its display, such as:
- Battery type
- Production date
- Recommended safe-use period
- Treating power banks as regulated electrical equipment with clear lifespans and traceable origins.
- Tough performance demands: devices must show “no fires, no combustion, no cracking and no leakage” even under extreme conditions (internal short circuits, high temperature/pressure, heavy use).
If fully enforced, these standards likely mean:
- Use of more robust materials
- Safer internal designs and stronger protection circuitry
- A potential exit from the market for many low-cost models that rely on older battery tech or minimal safety components
August 15, 2025: tightened 3C certification rules
Another important shift took effect on August 15, 2025, when new certification rules for portable power supplies, lithium-ion batteries, and battery packs were implemented. These rules:
- Tightened testing and certification under the 3C system
- Raised hurdles for manufacturers to obtain and keep 3C approval
- Gave regulators clearer grounds to suspend or cancel certificates when safety issues appear
At the same time, MIIT is moving toward requiring power banks to include either:
- An LCD display, or
- A connected mobile app
to show battery status. This feature—expected to roll out in the coming year—would let users and inspectors see remaining energy, usage conditions, and possibly fault warnings.
Industry and export implications
China is the world’s largest producer of power banks. The new measures affect the entire supply chain:
- Factories supply millions of units annually to Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
- VisaVerge.com analysis suggests that stricter domestic safety rules, enforced via the 3C system, typically ripple across export lines.
- Manufacturers generally avoid running separate production lines for different standards.
- This could lead to higher prices, fewer ultra-cheap models, and more detailed labeling on exported units.
Logistics firms and couriers: shipping refusals
The tighter approach extends beyond aviation to logistics:
- Some courier companies in Chinese cities have begun refusing to ship power banks, even those with valid 3C markings.
- Logistics firms cite liability fears if a parcel with a faulty battery catches fire in trucks, warehouses, or aircraft holds.
- For online sellers, refusal of express delivery can cut off customers and revenue; smaller brands say they struggle to get certified products delivered despite holding required approvals.
Consumer and airline reactions
Consumer reaction is mixed:
- Many passengers support stronger measures after repeated images of burning batteries in trains, apartments, and planes.
- Others find enforcement sudden and confusing, especially when devices are confiscated on the spot.
- Example complaint: a frequent business traveler between Shenzhen and Beijing lost two nearly new power banks in one week because the 3C labels had partly faded. He said, “You only find out at the machine, and by then you have no choice but to give it up or miss your flight.”
- Frequent international travelers now buy locally certified power banks just for use on Chinese routes to avoid losing expensive foreign-branded devices without 3C logos.
Airlines are in the middle:
- Carriers must follow CAAC instructions and coordinate with security, while handling passenger complaints about disrupted trips.
- Some airlines are adding reminders on websites and booking pages about power bank rules, urging passengers to check capacity and 3C markings before departure.
- Frontline staff still face angry customers at gates when chargers are discovered in storage lockers.
Safety rationale and official guidance
Regulators emphasize safety over convenience. For lithium batteries, the danger is real:
- Thermal runaway can turn a small failure into a fast-moving fire in moments.
- Fire-fighting options are limited inside an aircraft cabin.
The CAAC has repeatedly stressed that:
- Carrying power banks in checked baggage is forbidden
- Cabin checks are a critical final defense
For more information from the regulator, see the CAAC site: Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Key takeaway: travelers flying from mainland China must treat power banks almost like travel documents — properly certified, clearly marked, within strict capacity limits, and ready to be inspected before they are allowed on board.
What travelers, manufacturers, and carriers should do
- Travelers:
- Check for valid 3C markings before travel
- Verify unit capacity and keep combined capacity under 160 Wh
- Carry proof of airline approval for 100–160 Wh units
- Consider buying a locally certified power bank for travel within China
- Manufacturers:
- Prepare for stricter 3C testing and documentation
- Consider adding LCD displays or app connectivity for battery-status info
- Upgrade materials and protection circuitry to meet proposed performance standards
- Airlines and airports:
- Provide clear pre-trip communication about rules
- Offer transparent procedures for confiscation and temporary storage
- Train frontline staff to explain reasons for enforcement to reduce passenger friction
As MIIT finalizes new national standards and CAAC monitors the flight-ban’s effects, manufacturers, airlines, and travelers will be watching closely. For now, anyone flying from mainland China—local residents, overseas Chinese returning home, or foreign visitors—must comply with these tight rules or risk losing devices at the security checkpoint.
The CAAC has banned power banks without clear 3C certification on domestic flights from June 28, 2025, enforcing inspections and confiscations. Rules limit passengers to two units and a combined 160 Wh; single units over 160 Wh are banned and 100–160 Wh devices require airline approval. MIIT is drafting tougher national standards and August 15 certification changes raised testing hurdles, likely prompting safer designs, fewer cheap models, and logistical challenges for manufacturers and couriers.
