China Tightens Power Bank Flight Rules as New Safety Standard Takes Shape

Two sets of rules are reshaping the power bank market

China recorded 15 incidents involving power banks smoking or catching fire during flights in 2025, roughly double the previous year's number. Those incidents, large product recalls and problems with battery cells have prompted tighter airport checks and a proposed overhaul of how portable chargers are made, labeled and tested.

Since June 28, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has prohibited power banks without a clear China Compulsory Certification mark, known as 3C, on domestic flights. Recalled devices are also banned, even if they carry the mark. The restrictions apply to passengers and crew.

As of December 1, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is also seeking public comments on a draft technical standard for power banks. The consultation closes on December 11. The proposal calls for tougher safety tests and more information on each device, including its battery chemistry, production date and recommended safe use period.

The two measures affect different parts of the same problem. CAAC decides which devices can enter aircraft cabins. MIIT sets the technical basis that supports product certification. Passengers already face the aviation restrictions, while manufacturers are preparing for possible changes to the standards their products must meet.

China makes and uses more power banks than any other country. Changes to certification and airport screening therefore reach millions of devices, from chargers bought years ago to units sold abroad and batteries rented through shared charging networks. The immediate task for travelers is to check the device they own. For manufacturers, the challenge extends into battery sourcing, testing and production controls.

What airport security now checks

Airport security teams have been instructed to strengthen visual checks and use temporary storage or disposal arrangements to keep prohibited power banks off aircraft. A missing, damaged or hard to read 3C label can lead to rejection. A device named in a manufacturer recall is also prohibited.

Security staff look for the clear oval 3C logo on the casing, readable capacity information, and the brand and model details. Some airports ask passengers to place power banks separately on the screening belt. A sticker or faint printing may be rejected, so travelers should inspect the actual markings before leaving home.

International certification marks such as UL or CE do not replace 3C under the Chinese rules. This affects many devices purchased outside mainland China, as well as older chargers that were sold before the certification requirement took effect. A device can have other safety markings and still fail the Chinese airport check.

The emergency notice covers domestic flights departing from mainland China. In practice, checkpoints at some airports apply the same checks to many outbound international flights. Passengers taking a domestic flight before connecting to another country should prepare as though the checks will apply throughout their journey.

Flights to and from Hong Kong and Macau follow the rules set by those local authorities. Travelers using those routes need to check the relevant requirements separately. Some airport notices also advise that a power bank without the required certification can enter China but will not pass security when the passenger departs.

Capacity limits still apply

The certification check sits alongside existing battery size restrictions. A clearly marked 3C device must still meet the capacity limits for air travel. Power banks belong in hand luggage and must never be placed in checked baggage.

Capacity is measured in watt hours, or Wh, which describes how much electrical energy a battery stores. The usual limits are:

• Below 100 Wh: generally permitted in cabin baggage.
• Between 100 and 160 Wh: airline approval may be required, with carriage commonly limited to one or two units.
• Above 160 Wh: prohibited.

Passengers seeking the simplest screening process should choose a device rated at 100 Wh or less. Anyone carrying a unit between 100 and 160 Wh should seek airline approval before traveling. A certification mark does not remove that requirement.

Power banks labeled only in milliamp hours can be converted using the formula Wh = (mAh x voltage) divided by 1,000. Travelers need both the capacity and voltage figures to make that calculation. Readable labeling helps airport staff check the device against the limits.

Many Chinese carriers also restrict power bank use during flights. Passengers should not use a device unless the crew permits it. Where charging at the seat is allowed, the power bank should remain visible and within reach so it can be inspected.

Why older chargers may lack the 3C mark

China Compulsory Certification is the national safety certification system for a range of products. In August 2023, the market regulator added lithium cells, battery packs and mobile power supplies to the catalogue of products requiring certification.

From August 1, 2024, making, selling or importing power banks for commercial use without 3C became illegal. Many chargers bought before 2024 do not carry the mark. Devices made for export often lack it as well, which helps explain why travelers can encounter problems with a charger they have owned and used for some time.

A 3C mark is required for the flight check, but recalled models are still rejected. Regulators have revoked or suspended certifications for several manufacturers after safety problems. Airports may ask passengers to check a serial number or batch code against a recall notice.

Enforcement can vary between airports. Checking the logo, readable product details and recall status before a journey reduces the risk of a delay or losing the device at security.

The main dates show how product certification and aviation restrictions developed on separate tracks:

• August 2023: lithium cells, battery packs and mobile power supplies were added to the certification catalogue.
• August 1, 2024: making, selling or importing power banks for commercial use without 3C became illegal.
• June 28, 2025: the domestic flight ban took effect for power banks without clear 3C markings and for recalled devices.
• July 2025: Romoss halted power bank production after recalling nearly half a million units.
• December 11, 2025: public comments on MIIT's draft technical standard are due.

What MIIT wants manufacturers to change

MIIT's draft would require manufacturers to give buyers more information about the battery inside a power bank. Labels would identify the battery chemistry, production date and recommended safe use period. These details would sit alongside the capacity and model information already important at airport checkpoints.

The proposed tests also set demanding safety expectations. A compliant device should show no fire, combustion, cracking or leakage in test situations that include short circuits and heavy use. The draft requires power banks to remain safe under conditions involving high pressure and high temperature.

The China Electronics Standardization Institute has said a final version could take effect by mid 2026, followed by a grace period of six to twelve months. The exact implementation date has not been settled, and the draft remains open for comment until December 11.

Passengers can continue using power banks marked with 3C while the proposal is reviewed, subject to the existing flight, capacity and recall restrictions. Once the new standard takes effect, some models may fall out of compliance until manufacturers revise them.

The practical connection is certification. If the tests and labeling requirements supporting 3C become stricter, manufacturers will need to update their designs to maintain their certification status. Airport rules govern the finished device a passenger brings to security; the product standard reaches back into how that device is built.

Recalls put battery suppliers under scrutiny

Romoss halted power bank production in July after recalling nearly half a million units. Its 3C certificates were revoked. The case was among several major recalls that shaped the stronger regulatory response in 2025.

Anker and partners recalled more than one million power banks following reports of overheating and smoke. Investigations traced problems to battery cells from a supplier later identified in public notices. Regulators also suspended dozens of related 3C certifications while audits were carried out and replacement parts were sourced.

Manufacturers have found problems involving overheated cells, insulation failures and cells that differed from approved specifications. A power bank depends on the battery inside it, so a problem at a cell supplier can affect many finished products sold under different arrangements.

The recalls show why scrutiny extends beyond the brand printed on the casing. Quality can drift within a complex supply chain, and even a small change in a supplied cell can spread across large batches of finished chargers. Regulators are placing greater attention on tracing cells and checking changes to components.

The 15 incidents involving smoking or burning power banks during flights in 2025 provide the aviation context for that response. The figure was roughly twice the previous year's level, while recalls and certification action addressed problems in the wider market.

What happens to a rejected device

Airports in major cities have introduced services for passengers whose power banks cannot pass security. Depending on the terminal, the options include free storage for a short period, paid mailing services and safe disposal.

Guangzhou Baiyun and Chongqing Jiangbei airports have set up free storage for up to seven days, along with courier counters that can mail a device to a home address. These arrangements give passengers an alternative to taking a prohibited charger onto the aircraft.

Swollen or damaged batteries may be refused for storage or mailing. Devices with exposed wiring can also be rejected by those services on safety grounds. A traveler with a visibly damaged power bank therefore cannot rely on the same options available for an intact device that simply lacks the required marking.

Passengers should allow time for the additional check and any storage or mailing arrangements. The process now involves more than confirming battery capacity: staff first look for the 3C logo, check that the label is clear and verify that the device falls within the usual watt hour limits.

A charger bought abroad may need to be left behind before departure if it lacks 3C. Buying a compliant device in mainland China or using public charging are alternatives for travelers who need power during their stay.

Shared charging networks face a large replacement task

Shared power bank operators are also adapting. Audits in shopping malls in major cities found that most shared units carried 3C markings, while older devices persisted in night markets and older districts.

The sector has millions of rental docks nationwide and has grown steadily in recent years. Operators are expected to replace stock that does not comply and demonstrate that the devices already in their fleets meet the certification requirement.

The airport rule affects the individual charger carried by a passenger, while fleet checks require operators to account for devices spread across many locations. A large network may therefore need to verify existing units as well as ensure that replacement stock carries the required markings.

Retailers face a related task: removing products that do not comply and checking certification at scale. The broader safety response reaches devices already circulating in rental networks as well as new products entering shops.

Stricter tests may change designs and costs

Manufacturers preparing for the draft standard may need better quality cells, stronger enclosures, more precise battery management systems and clearer markings. A battery management system is the part of a device that manages how the battery operates. The proposed safety requirements would make the performance of those components more demanding.

Devices could become slightly heavier or cost more as brands add a greater safety margin. These are possible results of the proposed changes, while the requirements themselves remain under consultation.

Factories will face more demanding testing and auditing. Producers that have relied on affiliate arrangements or borrowed certification credentials will face stricter verification. Brands seeking to keep or regain 3C certification will need to show that their products meet the required conditions.

Regulators have warned that selling power banks without certification can lead to fines of 50,000 to 200,000 yuan and seizure of goods. Manufacturers and sellers should expect more random sampling at warehouses and retail outlets, tighter tracing of battery cells and closer checks when suppliers substitute a part.

International brands seeking access to China's market, or wanting their devices to pass Chinese airport checks, will need versions certified under 3C with the mark printed on the device. Imported models without that mark remain excluded under the Chinese flight restrictions and would also need to meet the new Chinese tests once those requirements take effect.

How the rules compare with international practice

International aviation guidance treats power banks as spare batteries. They belong in cabin baggage rather than checked luggage. Most airlines worldwide permit units up to 100 Wh, require approval for those between 100 and 160 Wh, and prohibit larger devices.

Several carriers also ask passengers to keep power banks visible and prohibit charging during the flight. China's capacity and carriage rules therefore sit within a wider effort to reduce lithium battery risks on aircraft, with the 3C check adding a Chinese certification requirement.

CAAC has said it will manage power bank risks in line with the international technical instructions used in civil aviation. Travelers still need to check the airline's rules because permission to carry a device and permission to use it during a flight are separate decisions.

For a journey involving mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau or an international connection, preparation means checking both the route and the carrier. Some mainland checkpoints apply the 3C check to outbound international passengers, while Hong Kong and Macau use their own local rules.

A checklist before leaving for the airport

Passengers can reduce the chance of rejection by checking the power bank itself before packing. The casing, label and recall status all matter, as do capacity and airline restrictions.

• Look for a clear oval 3C logo printed on the casing. A sticker or faint printing may be rejected.
• Check that the brand, model and capacity figures are easy to read.
• Check the brand's recall notices or China's defective product recall portal, using the serial number or batch code where needed.
• Choose a unit rated at 100 Wh or less for the simplest screening. Seek airline approval in advance for a device between 100 and 160 Wh.
• Use Wh = (mAh x voltage) divided by 1,000 if capacity is listed only in milliamp hours.
• Keep power banks in hand luggage, never checked baggage.
• Keep the device within reach during the flight and use it only if the crew allows it.
• Prepare for 3C checks throughout a journey involving a domestic connection in mainland China.
• Check Hong Kong and Macau requirements separately where those routes are involved.
• Use public charging or buy a compliant device in mainland China if the power bank you own lacks 3C.

Swelling, damage or exposed wiring can also limit the storage and mailing options available at an airport. Checking before departure gives travelers time to make other arrangements instead of dealing with a rejected battery at the checkpoint.

What to Know

• China's domestic flight restrictions took effect on June 28, 2025, covering passengers and crew.
• Power banks need a clear 3C mark. Recalled models are prohibited even if they carry that mark.
• China recorded 15 incidents involving smoking or burning power banks during flights in 2025, roughly double the previous year's number.
• Power banks must stay in cabin baggage. Capacity limits and airline rules on use still apply.
• Some mainland airports apply 3C checks to outbound international flights. Hong Kong and Macau follow local rules.
• Major airports offer storage, mailing or disposal, but damaged batteries may be refused for storage or mailing.
• MIIT's proposed standard adds labeling requirements and tougher safety tests. Public comments close on December 11.
• A final standard could take effect by mid 2026, followed by a grace period of six to twelve months.
• Manufacturers, retailers and shared charging operators face closer checks on certification, battery sourcing and existing stock.