The new version ofGB8898-201 standard in regards Audio, Video and similar electronic apparatus compulsory product certification was released on Dec 30, 2011 and will be implemented on Nov 1, 2012 to replace GB8898-2001 The relevant requirements of GB4943.1-2011 are listed below:

1. The applicant may apply for certification in accordance with either the new version of standard or the previous version since announcement till Oct 31, 2012. Starting from Nov. 1, 2012, the new standard will be adopted for certification and previous versions of standard application will no longer be accepted.
2. For products that were certificated in accordance to the previous version. Previous version certificate holder should submit the application to convert to new version of standard certification from the date of announcement. Upon request, samples should be delivered for type testing and confirmation in accordance with the new standard. Enterprises should complete convert certificate application before the first factory follow-up inspection after implementation date. The previous version certificate will be temporarily suspended if enterprises fails to accomplish application before due date. All previous version convert application should be accomplished no later than Nov. 1, 2013. Certificates unconverted before due date will temporarily be suspended. Certificates will be revoked if enterprises do not apply for convert after Feb. 1, 2014.
   For certified products that are put into the market before Dec 1, 2012 and are no longer produced, certificate conversion is not necessary.
3. For certified products that had left the factory and placed into the market before Nov 1, 2012 and are no longer produced, certificate conversion is not necessary.

Detailed Requirements of the New Standard:
TakingChina’s special geographical environment (altitude), climate condition, multi-lingual and related electrical requirements as well as CB Scheme’s latest IEC60065:2005(7.1 version) test deviation and its requirements into consideration, the new standard requires product to comply with the following requirement.

1. Altitude: GB8898-2011 requires that test deviation conducted on products intended to be used at 5000M (2000~5000M, including 5000M). If CB Report is used to apply for CCC application, 5000M altitude test condition should be considered, otherwise, test deviation will be conducted. For products that are used below 5000M, a label “仅适用于在海拔2000米以下地区安全使用” or similar warning that indicates the product is designed to be used below 2000M should be affixed.
   If only a “” symbol on the product is affixed, further explanation should be made in the user’s manual.
   
   
2. Climate Condition: Additional evaluation for products intended to be used in China tropical area is required in GB8898-2011. For products that are intended for use in non-tropical climate condition. A mark “仅适用于在非热带气候条件下安全使用”, a similar warning statement or symbols should be affixed to the product. In the case that only a symbol is affixed on the product , further explanation should be made in the user’s manual.
   
   
3. Multi-Lingual: Considering multi-ethnic distribution in the territory of China, eg. Tibet, Mongolia, Xinjiang etc.., the new GB8898-2011 standard requires that safety warning labels of products should be in five languages includingHanwen, Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur and Zhuang.
   
   
4. Clearances: For products intended for use in altitude higher than 5000M there are especial requirements for components like transformers, opto-coupler and isolation capacitor. It’s clearance should be measured and estimated in correspondent with the multiplication factor of 1.48 at 5000M according to altitude GB/T 16935.1
   
   
5. Marked Power Rating: Configure Single or multi-power rating as 220V or 3-wires 380V. If power rating is configured at a range, power rating includes 220V or 3-wires 380V. Rated frequency or frequency range shall, in principle, be 50Hz or include 50Hz.
   
   
6. Isolation of antenna& grounding: For Class I & Class II products that is supplied with antennas, GB8898-2011 requires that the antenna and its safety ground be isolated. Otherwise, warnings should be added in the manual.