Pattern Approval of Measuring Instrument

in China

Yibo Ye Grace Lin Zhenlu Li

Legal Technology Division Grace Compliance Specilist LLC Department of Metrology
National Institute of Metrology New Jersey, USA AQSIQ
Beijing, P.R. China gracelin@graspllc.com Beijing, P.R. China
yeyb@nim.ac.cn lizl@aqsiq.gov.cn

Abstract—China’s market has lured many manufacturers and • calorimeters

companies globally. This paper provides readers with a
communication channel to help people understand and follow the
regulations, thus speeding up the approval process of measuring
instrument imported into China.
Keywords-AQSIQ, China, NIM, Meauring Instrument, Pattern
Approval
I. INTRODUCTION
China’s compulsory product certification system (CPCS)
[1] covers regulatory requirements for most of products. Some
products are covered by other compliance schemes [2] such as
the pattern approval, network access license approval, etc. This
paper addresses compliance requirements for measuring
instruments.
China’s regulatory agency for measuring instruments is the
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ). The
“Metrology Law of the People’s Republic of China” took effect
July 1, 1986. “Rules for the implementation of the Metrology
Law of the People’s Republic of China” gives a detail
implementation of the metrology law. The “Act for the
Supervision and Management of Imported Measuring
Instruments of the People’s Republic of China” governs
imported measuring instruments. The “Rules for the
implementation of the Act of the Supervision and Management
of Imported Measuring Instruments of the People’s Republic of
China” gives the detail requirements, clarification, and
interpretation of the Act.
China’s compliance approval process for measuring
instruments is the pattern approval. The imported measuring
instruments subject to pattern approval are:
• weighing instruments (including balances)
• transducers (sensors, load cells)
• sound level meters
• three-coordinate measuring machines
• roughness measuring instruments
• geodetic instruments
• flow meters (including water meters, geometers)
• pressure meters (including sphygmomanometers)
• thermometers
• digital voltmeters
• field strength measuring instruments
• electrocardiographs, electroencephalographs
• monitors of harmful gas, dust, water contamination
• ionizing radiation protectors
• spectrophotometers (including UV, IR and visual
spectrophotometers)
• gas and liquid chromatographs
• humid meters, moisture measuring instruments
For a large system including regulated measurement
instruments, if the name/description of the system is listed
above, the system is subject to pattern approval. In addition to
the pattern approval, electrocardiographs are subject to
compulsory certification under the CPCS. Both
electrocardiographs and electroencephalographs are subject to
medical device registration under the State Food and Drug
Administration (SFDA).
II. APPROVAL PROCESS
The Pattern Approval process includes the following steps.
A flow chart is shown in Fig. 1.
• Submitting an Application
• Initial Review
• Type Testing.
• Final Review
• Issuance of Certificate
An application for pattern approval is submitted to:
AQSIQ - Department of Metrology

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 No. 9, Madian East Road, Haidian District receiving an application. The initial review observes the
Beijing 100088, P. R. China product in order to:
• Make sure it follows the international system of unit
AQSIQ performs initial review within two weeks after (SI), which is used in China
• See if the product is restricted by the State Council
An applicant or its agent
• Confirm the product meets other metrological
requirements required by law/regulations
Submitting an application to the
Dept. of Metrology, AQSIQ Type test includes examining the exterior look of the
product and testing metrological functions, safety, environment
Initial Review
immunity, reliability or life cycle, etc. Typically, the quantity
of test samples required is three (3). For large and/or expensive
products, the quantity of test samples can be reduced to two or
No
one. For extra large products, witness testing is an option. If
Pass
submitted test samples fail the type test, an applicant can re-
submit test samples within three months. If test samples pass
Yes the tests, three types of reports are issued by the laboratory
engineer: test registration form (stating basic product
AQSIQ authorizes a test lab information, including product exterior photos), test plan, and
(NIM) to conduct test. The
test report. If re-submitted test samples fail tests, test
application is forwarded to
the lab. registration form is not issued.
To avoid the responsibility for mishandling of certificates
Lab notifies applicant for during delivery, AQSIQ does not mail certificates out to an
test samples

Applicant submits test

samples to the lab

Lab conducts test(s)

No Applicant modifies
Pass tests? test samples

Lab conducts test(s)

Yes

Lab engineer prepares test/

evaluation reports to AQSIQ

Final review by AQSIQ

AQSIQ issues a certificate

Applicant picks up a certificate

End

Figure 1. Pattern Approval Process Figure 2 Pattern Approval Certificate

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applicant or its agent. Certificates must be picked up from the
AQSIQ office. An example of a certificate is shown in Fig. 2. TABLE I. TYPE DESIGNATOR OF CPA MARK

Type of Measuring Instrument Type Designator

III. APPLICATION PACKAGE FOR PATTERN APPROVAL
Length L
A. Application Form Thermodynamics, Temperature T
Dynamics F
An application form, in both Chinese and English, can be
downloaded from the NIM (National Institute of Metrology) Electromagnetic E
web site at www.nim.ac.cn; it includes five pages. The Radio, Microwave R
required information in the application form includes, but is not
limited to: name of applicant, contact name, manufacturer, date Time, Frequency K
of application, and product information. Acoustics S

B. Application Fees Optics O

The application fee must be paid before a certificate is
issued. Chinese currency is Reminbi Yuan (RMB¥, US$1.00 ≅
RMB¥8.30).
In addition to the application fee, the applicant is
responsible for the cost of testing.
C. Application Documents
Three copies of the following documents must accompany
an application:
1) Product Photographs: A complete set of product
photographs, including extenal and internal views, is required.
2) Assembly Drawings, Schematics, Block Diagrams:
provide when applicable
3) Technical Standard(s) and Examination Method(s):
describe or provide a list of product standard(s) for which the
product is designed
4) Test report(s) issued by the manufacturer: provide test
report(s) obtained during product development
5) Operation Manual: The operation manual must be in
Chinese
IV. PATTERN APPROVAL TIME FRAME
The average approval time for an application is about four
months (sixteen weeks). This time frame includes two weeks
of initial review, twelve weeks of testing, and two weeks of
final review. Lag time caused by the applicant is not included.
Ionization A
Chemistry C
measuring instrument, is in the format of YYYY-ZNNN.
YYYY standards for the year a certificate is issued. Z is a
character designating the type of product. TABLE I lists type
designators. NNN stands for serial number. CPA mark can be
affixed to product and its package.
VI. VALIDITY OF A CERTIFICATE
The validity of a certificate, under pattern approval, is not
specified. As long as the Metrology Law and its related rules
are followed, a certificate is valid.
AQSIQ reserves the right to withdraw the certificate(s) for
outdated (from technical point of view) products.
VII. TEMPORARY PATTERN APPROVAL
Under the following circumstances, a temporary certificate
can be issued:
• Urgent Need
• Small Quantity
• For those products that China’s test lab(s) temporarily
have no capability to perform tests on
• For display and sale during business show

V. PATTERN APPROVAL CERTIFICATION MARK • Other special need

Pattern approval certification mark is the CPA
(Certification of Pattern Approval) mark. This mark includes a
CPA logo and an identification number. The logo of the mark
is shown in Fig. 3. The identification number, for imported
An application for display products needs to be submitted
to a metrological office of provincial government where the
exhibition is located. An application for all other purposes
needs to be submitted to the AQSIQ.
The validity of a temporary certificate is up to one year, and
is only valid for the quantity applied.

VIII. SERIES PRODUCT FILING

“Series” product filing is the method used when seeking
approval for a product family. It must be included in the
Figure 3. CPA Logo primary filing.

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 TABLE II. COMMONLY USED EMC, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL TEST STANDARDS

Chinese Standards Reference Standards Title

GB 4793.1 – 1995
GB 4793.x – 2001
(x = 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) (xx = 32, 51, 41, 31, 10, 20)
GB 11500 - 1989
GB 11501 - 1989
GB/T 3978 - 1994
GB/T 6585 - 1996
GB/T 9317 - 1988
GB/T 9318 - 1988
GB/T 6587.2 - 1986
GB/T 6587.3 - 1986
GB/T 6587.4 - 1986
GB/T 6587.5 - 1986
GB/T 6593 - 1996
GB/T 11461 - 1989
GB/T 11462 - 1989
GB/T 11463 - 1989
GB/T 12114 - 1989
GB/T 12115 - 1989
GB/T 12116 - 1989
GB/T 12117 - 1989
GB/T 12179 - 1990
GB/T 12180 - 1990
GB/T 12181 - 1990
GB/T 12280 - 1990
GB/T 12822 - 1991
GB/T 15151.1 - 1994
GB/T 15151.2 - 1994
GB/T 17626.2 - 1998
GB/T 17626.3 - 1998
GB/T 17626.4 - 1998
GB/T 17626.5 - 1999
GB/T 17626.6 - 1998
GB/T 17626.8 - 1998
GB/T 17626.11 - 1999
Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory
IEC 1010-1: 1990
use Part 1: General requirements
IEC 61010-2-0xx: 1994 Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory
use
ISO 5-2: 1985 Geometric conditions for measuring transmission density
ISO 5-3: 1984 Spectral conditions for measuring photography density
CIE S001: 1986 Standard illuminants and illuminating-viewing conditions
IEC 351-1: 1976 General specification for cathode-ray oscilloscopes
IEC 469: 1974 The specifications of pulse signal generators
IEC 469-2: 1974 Test method of pulse signal generators
--- Temperature tests for electronic measuring instruments
--- Humility tests for electronic measuring instruments
--- Vibration tests for electronic measuring instruments
--- Shock tests for electronic measuring instruments
--- Quality inspection provisions for electronic measuring instruments
IEC 714: 1981 Generic specification of spectrum analyzers
IEC 714: 1981 Test methods of spectrum analyzers
--- Reliability test for electronic measuring instruments
IEC 716: 1981 Generic specification of high frequency signal generators
--- Measuring methods for high frequency signal generators
--- Generic specification for electronic analog voltmeters
--- Measuring methods for electronic analog voltmeters
--- General specifications of noise generators
--- Test methods for general purpose low frequency signal generators
IEC 716: 1981 General purpose specification of low frequency signal generators
--- Test methods for noise generator
ISO 5-4: 1983 Geometric conditions for photographic reflection density measurement
--- Generic specification for frequency counters
--- Measuring methods for frequency counters
Electromagnetic compatibility – Testing and measurement techniques –Electrostatic
IEC 61000-4-2: 1995
discharge immunity test
Electromagnetic compatibility(EMC) Testing and measurement techniques Radiated,
IEC 61000-4-3: 1995
radio-frequency, electromagnetic field immunity test
Electromagnetic compatibility(EMC) Testing and measurement techniques Electrical
IEC 61000-4-4: 1995
fast transient/burst immunity test
Electromagnetic compatibility – Testing and measurement techniques – Surge
IEC 61000-4-5: 1995
immunity test
Electromagnetic compatibility – Testing and measurement techniques – Immunity to
IEC 61000-4-6: 1996
conducted disturbances, induced by radio-frequency fields
Electromagnetic compatibility – Testing and measurement techniques – Power
IEC 61000-4-8: 1993
frequency magnetic field immunity test
Electromagnetic compatibility – Testing and measurement techniques – Voltage dips,
IEC 61000-4-11: 1994
short interruptions and voltage variations immunity test

If none of China’s standards apply to the product for testing,

IX. COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPARE/REPAIR PARTS
There is no special compliance requirement under pattern
approval for spare parts.
X. TEST STANDARDS
China’s national standards are GB (Guo Biao) or GB/T
standards. If there is no GB or GB/T standard available,
professional standard(s) or enterprise standard(s) may be used.
international standard(s) or specifications in the contract can be
used.
TABLE II lists commonly used electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC), safety, and environmental test standards.
Please note this table does not include product standards for
each product type. Not all the products need to meet all the test
standards listed in the table. Test standards are determined by
the laboratory engineer during product evaluation.

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 XI. LABORATORY ACCREDIATION • Order to compensate for losses
Currently, the National Institute of Metrology (NIM) is • Withdrawal of certificate(s)
accredited for the testing of measuring instruments. NIM is a
state level of research, development, calibration and test center • Confiscation of illegal gains, measuring instruments,
of metrology in China. defective spare parts of measuring instruments, and an
illegal verification stamp(s) and a certificate(s)
XII. MUTUAL RECOGNITION • Imposition of fines
Mutual recognition is a way to avoid the same or similar In addition to administrative sanctions, if the circumstances
tests to satisfy all of the various requirements worldwide. At are serious, the individual or the person in charge shall be
the time of this writing, China has signed mutual recognition investigated for criminal responsibility according to the crimes
agreement/arrangement with Germany and Holland in regards of swindling or speculation.
to the mutual acceptance of a test report for pattern approval.
REFERENCES
XIII. LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
Manufacturing, selling, and importing unapproved [1] G. Lin, “EMC in China,” Symposium Record, 2002 IEEE International
regulated measurement instruments violate Chinese law. Symposium on EMC, pp. 782-787
Punishment of violations are based on the “Rules for the [2] G. Lin, “China’s Compliance Management System,” Symposium
Punishment of Violations against Metrological Law and Acts” Record, 2003 IEEE International Symposium on EMC, pp. 102-107
promulgated August 25, 1990. Administrative sanctions for [3] JJF 1015-2002, “General Norm for Pattern Evaluation and Pattern
the violations against metrological law include: Approval of Measuring Instruments”
[4] www.aqsiq.gov.cn
• Order to make a correction(s) [5] www.nim.ac.cn
• Order to stop manufacture, business, delivery, repair,
marketing , use, verification, testing, inspection, and
import

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