Measures for the Administration of Certification Institutions

(Promulgated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on July 20 2011 and effective as of September 1 2011.)

Order of the AQSIQ No.141

Part One: General provisions

Article 1: These Measures have been formulated pursuant to relevant laws and administrative regulations such as the PRC Certification and Accreditation Regulations (the Certification Regulations) in order to strengthen the oversight of certification institutions, regulate certification activities and enhance the effectiveness of certification.

Article 2: For the purposes of these Measures, the term “certification institution” means an attesting institution with legal personality established after approval, in accordance with the law, that independently engages in the qualification assessment of whether products, services and management systems comply with standards and the requirements of related technical specifications.

Article 3: These Measures shall govern the engagement in certification activities and the oversight of certification institutions in the People's Republic of China.

Article 4: The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has overall responsibility for the oversight of certification institutions.

The Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (the CNCA) is responsible for the work associated with the establishment of certification institutions, related examination and approval, and oversight of their practice activities.

The quality and technical supervision departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government (the Provincial-level Quality and Technical Supervision Departments) and their directly subordinate entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities (the Directly Subordinate Inspection and Quarantine Authorities) are responsible for oversight of certification activities within their jurisdictions in accordance with these Measures and to the extent the same falls within the scope of their duties.

Article 5: When engaging in certification activities, certification institutions shall adhere to the principles of impartiality, transparency, objectivity, independence and good faith, and safeguard the public integrity system.

Article 6: Certification institutions and their personnel shall maintain the confidentiality of state secrets, trade secrets and technical secrets to which they are privy in the course of their practice activities.