Elksourcing：Introduction of China Compulsory Certification (3C or CCC)

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Elksourcing：Introduction of China Compulsory Certification (3C or CCC)

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

“China Compulsory Certification”, abbreviated as CCC or 3C. The CCC certification mark is“CCC”, which was formulated by the National Certification and Accreditation Administration Committee in accordance with the “Compulsory Product Certification Management Regulations” (Order No. 5 of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China).

China Compulsory Certification (CCC) is similar to other certifications for product quality standardization–such as the European CE system–but there are important differences. The CCC certificate was introduced in 2002 and applies to imported goods as well as to Chinese products. Products which require certification may only be imported, sold and/or used in business activities in China, after a China Compulsory Certification has been obtained. Since October 2019 there is a CCC-Self-Declaration or a voluntary certification for certain product groups.

The new compulsory product certification system came into force since May 1, 2002. To ensure the smooth transition between the new and the old system, the original product safety certification system and import safety and quality licensing system would be abolished from 1 May 2003.

 According to relevant documents concerning the national compulsory product certification (hereinafter referred to as “3C Certification”), since May 1, 2003, if products that were included in the first directory of 3C Certifications (namely, of the 19 categories of 132 kinds of products) failed to obtain 3C logo, they cannot be for sale, import, and used in business activities. But for exceptional cases in production, import and business activities, Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China issued Notice No. 8 of 2002 and stipulated that some products can apply for exemption from 3C certification.

Here are some key questions related: 

What products need to apply for compulsory product certification?

The First Catalogue of Products Subject to Compulsory Certification (hereinafter referred to as “the catalogue)”, which refers to the attachments in General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China Announcement (2OO1, No.33 ) and 132 products divided into 19 categories jointly announced by China Certification and Accreditation Administration Commission.

1 ) Wire & Cable (5 types in total ); 2 ) Circuit switching and protection or electrical device connections( 6 types in total ); 3 ) Low Voltage electric apparatus (9 types in total); 4 ) fractional electric motor (1 type only ); 5 ) power tools (16 types in total ); 6 ) electric welder (15 types in total ); 7 ) household and similar appliances and equipment (18 types in total ); 8 ) audio and video equipments ( not including audio equipment for broadcasting purpose and car audio equipment ) (16 types in total );9 ) IT equipment (12 types in total ) ;1O) lighting equipment ( not including lighting equipment whose voltage is below 36V) ( 2 types in total) ; 11 ) Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (9 types in total ) ;12 ) motor vehicles and safety parts (4 types in total) ;; 13 ) motor vehicle tires (5 types in total ) ;; 14 ) safety glass (5 types in total ) ;15 ) agricultural machinery ( 1 type in total ) ; 16 ) latex products ( 1 type in total ); 17 ) medical Devices (7 types in total ); 18 ) fire control products (3 types in total) 19 ) Security and Protection products (1 type in total)

For more informatio related, please check it on: https://www.cqc.com.cn/www/chinese/cprz/CCCcprz/ 

What are the procedures for CCC?

The certification procedures include all or part of the following steps; 1 ) Certification Application and Acceptance; 2 ) Type test; 3 ) Factory inspection; 4 ) Sampling; 5 ) Evaluation of certification results and approval; 6 ) Supervision after obtaining certification.

You can also apply CCC via a qualified agent in China, for more informatio related, please check it on: https://www.cqc.com.cn/www/chinese/cprz/CCCcprz/ 

What technical materials should be provided by enterprises in the application?

The following documents are generally required. 1) general assembly drawing, electrical schematic diagram, circuit diagram. 2) key components and/or list of main raw materials. 3) the difference descriptions of the products of all sizes in the same application unit. 4) other required documents. 5) CB Certificate and report (if available), for more information please refer to the Implementation Rules for Compulsory Certification for the products.

How long is the certification cycle?

In general, CQC will identify the certification and inform the applicants in one to three months since its formal acceptance of the application.

What is the cost of CCC certification ?

In accordance with national standards, the fee for CCC shall be collected by CQC. The applicant should submit the required fee for CCC to CQC according to the items, amount and back account listed by the CQC. The certification fee shall be slightly different with different certification bodies.

China Sourcing Agent

Elksourcing：How to Find a Good China Buying Office, Sourcing Agent or Purchasing Agent

Apr 21, 2021 by 露露

A good Buying Office, Sourcing Agent or Purchasing Agent plays a very important role in doing safe and smooth business in China, especially when you’re placing a large order: Sourcing and Verifying qualified suppliers, Quality Control, Loading Process Supervision, Warehousing, Shipping Support, Business Risk Control, Legal Contract Support and After-sale service etc. However, It is NOT easy to find a right one. If you don’t make an informed decision when selecting a buying office or purchasing agent you might end up losing a lot more than the commission or service fee.

What is a purchasing agent and why do I need one?

A purchasing agent could be an individual, a group of team or a company, helping companies overseas to import from China. So sometimes buying office service can also refer to ‘purchasing agent’, Buying Office service will be supported by a team of experts in each field: sourcing, verification, procurement, quality control, business risk control etc. A good agent can be an extremely valuable asset in your overall product procurement strategy. Here are the main services offered by your qualified ‘buying office’ or ‘purchasing agent’ in China:

I. Keep sourcing new products and suppliers.

II. Verify, inspect or audit existing suppliers.

III. Price negotiations and Supply Chain Management

IV. Draft formal Purchase Contract (Business Risk Control)

V. Quality Control Management

VI. Shipping Support and Loading Process Supervision

VII.Customs Clearance Support

VIII. Attend any professional trade fair on behalf of the customers and obtain the latest market information or trend in their industry in China. 

Any other service, say, order follow-up, biz guide, after-sale service support etc, can be available upon request.

Dealing with Chinese suppliers is very time consuming. Working with a qualified Buying Office or Purchasing Agent can save you much time, cost and energy etc in China. For example, 80% of the suppliers you met online or at local trade fairs might be a typical trade company while the local sourcing specialists can go to the real manufacturing bases to find out some qualified factories for you in person. Apparently the factory price is much more competitive than that of the trader’s anywhere on the globe, by this way you can save more cost in the business.

China is a huge country with more than 1.4 billion people, there are countless individual agents and more than 35000 professional purchasing agent companies based on official data in China as of Nov 1,2020. Most of the sourcing service companies are located in coastal areas like Guangdong, Zhejiang, Fujian etc. No matter whom you are going to work with, the first step is to verify their business license or identity card before you sign any agreement.

How to choose a right buying office or purchasing agent from China?

Here are my tips for your reference, we will focus on 5 important things: 

I. References

Trust is very important among any international business worldwide, especially for long term cooperation. The best way to check out their qualifications and obtain trust is simply to call their current client from your area or other countries. Some unqualified agents will refuse to offer client details but most of the reliable agents will offer references to get trust from their potential new clients. Do remember to ask your agents for at least 3 client references and check them out before working together. 

II. Manufacturing Bases

Do not forget to choose a right sourcing or purchasing agent who is near to the manufacturing base ( industry cluster) of your industry.

In China, almost every city has their pillar industry and each product has one or several manufacturing bases. Say, if you’re buying fireworks, you can simply go to Liuyang city, which is called ‘Home of Fireworks’ or ‘Capital of Fireworks’, where there are more than 400,000 people directly or indirectly engaging in this business in China. ‘Liuyang-made’fireworks account for 70% of China market and 50% of global market at present. Another three famous manufacturing bases for this product is Liling, Hunan and Shangli, Wanzai, Jiangxi, these four manufacturing bases are near to each other. This is the same situation to most of the products in China. Your agent’s proximity to a certain industrial cluster can certainly help out when things go wrong during production. It may also cut traveling and transportation costs.

III. Verification 

As I mentioned just now, it is very important to check out their credit and qualifications first before cooperation. As far as we know most of the sourcing agents do not have export license in China. 

Ask them for their Identity Card Copy if your agent is an individual and ask them for their Business License copy if they a company, check them out with local officials or third-party verification service company first before formal cooperation.

IV. Kickback Issue 

Kickback issue does exist in some businesses, esp among some individual agents. When you are working with an individual purchasing agent, they may choose the supplier based on the kickback amount and will not protect the client’s interests in China sometimes. While for some professional purchasing agent companies, they may have strict counter-measures on how to avoid ‘kickbacks, say, their staff has to sign an anti-kickback agreement with their company and the suppliers during any sourcing activity in China, this is why you’d better work with a purchasing agent company instead of an individual agent. Of course, this is an issue of management and it is very hard to eradicate‘kickback’but some well-known agents may have lot of experience to avoid it. 

The client is also suggested to ask them for the measures on how to avoid‘kickbacks’from the suppliers in China. 

V. Quality Control Management

 Ask them enough professional questions regarding the coming orders in China.Many sourcing agents are also lacking expertise about quality control in overseas markets.

Keep in mind that in the end, you are going to be held financially responsible if your products turn out to be non-compliant with the relevant standards. Importing from China can be a completely different story depending on the product. Some products are very complicated (i.e. machinery ) while others a fairly easy to get right (i.e. facial tissues ). So the client is suggested to work with an agent who has a team of professional quality control inspectors.  

If they are able to satisfy you from above five aspects, then you can feel assured to work with them in China. We are also a professional business service company and we have served more than 2,000 clients from over 80 countries and areas on the globe so far. You are welcome to visit us in China !

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Elksourcing：How to effectively source from multiple Chinese suppliers simultaneously?

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

For the big buyers or importers, it’s not difficult to purchase from multiple suppliers at one time because each supplier could at least fill up a 20 ft container, the customs clearance and logistics are comparably easier. But to those start-up companies,they usually test the markets with small orders, indicating that they need to purchase different products from different suppliers with trial orders at one time. In such cases, the domestic logistics management,lead time control, delivery time control, stocking, warehousing, and customs clearance etc are rather complicated.So how do we make an easier and more effective sourcing from different Chinese suppliers simultaneously when the order is not big enough? 

First of all what we need is a reliable and experienced Chinese partner or purchasing agent like Elksourcing.. An excellent partner or agent can well consolidate all your shipments at one time, coordinate the lead time and delivery time, arrange domestic logistics, control the business risks, arrange warehousing and clear the customs on time etc. 

Secondly, it’s vital to control the lead time and delivery time of each shipment. The ones with longer lead time should be paid earlier. All the consolidated shipments shall be delivered to a designated warehouse in China. Any delay of one shipment will result in the delay of whole order, which may cause an unexpected stocking or warehousing cost in China as well. 

Thirdly, all the documents for customs clearance have to be prepared in advance for consolidated orders, each shipment may require different documents for customs clearance. For example, some products are made from wood, then a special fumigation certificate is required in order to clear the customs.

Last but not the least it’s necessary to choose the appropriate transportation way, whether to ship by sea, air or express, depends on the total shipping cost and the specific need from each client. Elksourcing has rich experience in sourcing and consolidating different shipments for her clients in Mainland China, please feel free to ask us any question related.

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Elksourcing：How to choose a qualified supplier in China

Apr 21, 2021 by 露露

1.Excellent CEO or boss: 

Only excellent CEO or boss can make the enterprise develop healthily and stably.

2.High-quality management team: 

When the enterprise has high-quality and competent staff, the management of the company will be efficient and dynamic.

3.Stable staff: 

Stability of staff can ensure the quality consistency of the product. The excessive mobility of the staff will affect the quality of product.

4.Advanced equipment and facilities: 

Well-functioning machines guarantee the better quality of product.

5.Superior technology: 

The enterprise should not only have high-quality staff and good management,but also have experienced and innovative technical staff. Only through continuous technological reform and innovation can the quality of the product be guaranteed and material cost be reduced.

6.Splendid management systems:    

Scientific incentives,unimpeded management channels, and sound management systems can fully encourage staff to show their initiative,which also can make sure the supplier is reliable and their product and service are top-ranking.

7.Reliable quality control system：

Strict quality control measures and systems can confirm the right quality in China. 

8.Timely delivery：

A good supplier should honor the contract and the lead time should be well controlled. 

9.High-quality after-sales service support：

If theiry after-sale service terms is well stipulated in written forms, then it might be considered to be a good supplier as well. 

As a professional sourcing service company here in China, we always use above checkpoints to access and select a qualified supplier for our clients worldwide.

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Elksourcing：1688 – the largest wholesale and sourcing market on the globe

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

Lots of foreign clients ask us where local Chinese source in China at present,the answer is definitely 1688.com. According to the recent market survey conducted by STIN company,92% of the small e-store Chinese sellers on Aliexpress, Amazon,Ebay and Taobao etc will source from 1688, the rest will source from the small factories owned by themselves or their relatives, 98% of Chinese sourcing specialists or buyers will source the suppliers on 1688, especially for small orders. 

1688.com, which is a part of Alibaba Group, formally launched in early 2010 in China, has been the largest wholesale and sourcing market for all kinds of raw materials, industrial products, clothing, home appliances and other general commodities on the globe. 

On their official website (www.1688.com), 1688 claims to have a number of 120,000,000 registered users, more than 10,000,000 companies (factories and wholesalers), with a wide range of 49 different industry sectors are registered with 1688.com, attracting 12,000,000 daily visits online. 

We used to source or wholesale from local wholesale markets or factories in China but now you can wholesale almost any item online by simply clicking your mouse on 1688.com. Of course when come to a large order, you have to verify or audit your suppliers first as there are still lots of scammers online. 1688.com is only a platform and they are not responsible for your losses in case you meet a professional scammer there. By the way if you would like to buy directly from 1688.com, you may need a local agent to help you out as it’s only for domestic users at present.

China Sourcing Agent

Elksourcing：Why Look for Product Sourcing Agent China?

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

Sourcing is the art of locating and choosing certain businesses or individuals or in accordance with set criteria. Companies routinely hunt for sourcing requirements to complete the Supply Chain Management cycle. Identification of potential manufacturers is the first step in this process, followed by subsequent assessment of goods. Finally, the product sourcing agent China must engage with the manufacturer for the best price. 

At present, China is regarded as the world’s premier manufacturing hub, with all types of parts being made here, thereby ensuring low prices. Therefore, any business that requires different parts can get them from hire. However, direct engagement with the suppliers is very difficult, owing to language barriers, cultural differences, legal issues, and business risks. All these challenges can be effectively mitigated by a reputed product sourcing agent China.   

Every business wants to ensure that it is able to get manufacturers who give high preference to quality. For this reason, the top management at various businesses has to finalize a suitable sourcing company and go by the expertise and judgment of its professionals. Once chosen rightly, the sourcing agents will help businesses run successfully for a long time.    

The dependable network 

Chinese sourcing agents function efficiently due to a great network with manufacturers and other parties who form part of the SCM cycle. It makes sense for a company to leverage this network through the agent and formulate a procurement strategy accordingly. Various methods to reach out to the sourcing framework include:

1) Use of the Internet – This is possibly the single largest source to locate sourcing agents. A number of them are present here, though one can get better results through streamlined searches. 

2) Tapping into social media – A few exclusive sourcing companies use social media to propagate themselves, although the numbers are lesser than the Internet. Some of these are likely to very well known in small circuits, which may be visible on forums. However, some of the information here is unverified.

The sourcing agents can be trusted enough to do their part of the job, which is to locate suitable manufacturers. However, companies doing business with them will need to keep track of transactions. Contracts enforced with the manufacturers, using help from sourcing agents, must be done carefully. One can look at the sourcing agents for a healthy degree of assistance here. Of course, every organization must remember to conduct thorough market research prior to sourcing their requirements.

How is sourcing carried out?

1) Quotes – Agents must work hard enough to collect price quotes from various Chinese manufacturers 

2) Sample review – After acceptance of the final quote, physical samples are taken from the manufacturer and are forwarded for approval

3) Trial run – During the trial run, the critical section of the project is discussed in detail with the manufacturer

4) Production – Mass production commences once the customer feels confident. QC professionals play their part in monitoring quality.

5) Delivery – Forwarders pick up the products to deliver products as per customer demands. Additionally, aspects such as certification custom clearance, product clearance, and documentations are also handled.

China Sourcing Agent

Elksourcing：Nine Things to Consider When Choosing A Sourcing Agent

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

China is undoubtedly the largest manufacturing economy in the world. It is one of the largest exporters of products. The markets of China are known for their cost-effective, high-quality products. Hence the manufacturing sector of China has significantly boosted its economy.

The industrial markets of China are on par with the best ones across the globe. If you wish to source your business from China, this could prove to be your best decision. The difference in language and culture and the heterogeneity of the business practices that might starkly differ from your native place can prove to be a barrier. 

Selecting from the pool of products for investment, and to stand out amongst the foreign buyers, might seem difficult. This is where the Chinese sourcing agents step in. If you are not aware of the process of choosing one, don’t worry. Sourcing agents are the third party who will thoroughly help you to find the right supplier for you in the concerned country. The sourcing agents are aware of every minute detail of the country, from their business practices to their languages. Here is a list of things you need to consider while choosing a sourcing agent in China.

1) Location of The Sourcing Agent

While looking for the sourcing agent on the Internet, find the location of these agents. Do the research, find out if they are Chinese or an outlet of the foreign company established in China. Doing business with foreign companies will prove to be easier than proceeding with the Chinese ones. 

This is because internet policies are rigid in China. Hence investigating the credentials of the Chinese sourcing agent can be tricky. But, if you are going along with a foreign sourcing agent in China, check thoroughly if they have an established reputation and not faux. 

2) Experience of The Sourcing Agent

Western companies starkly differ from Chinese businesses in terms of operational factors. This could be ascertained to the difference in language, customs, and culture. Hence, you need to wisely choose a sourcing agent who has served a long time in China‘s service. If they have years of experience and expertise, they will certainly have a large network of trustworthy contacts. 

3) Check for References

Before you settle down for your sourcing agent, make sure they provide you with authentic references. Once you get hold of these, contact these references and check their websites. Ask them for reviews that is, if it is right for you to work with the concerned sourcing agent.

4) Get Required Documentation

It is the sourcing agent’s job to refer you to the appropriate documentation for the sourcing and shipping process. Sourcing agents will provide you with the documentation like the Certificate of Origin, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Fumigation, along with a packing list.

5) Research on How They Deal with Quality Issues

It should be your duty to check how the sourcing agent deals with quality issues. Ensure that you will not compromise with the quality of the products.

6) Have Necessary License

Any established business will have a license to trade. Before you finalize your sourcing agent, check if they bear a legitimate license.

7) Check Language Proficiency

The sourcing agent based in China should have multiple languages, most importantly, English and Mandarin. Written and spoken abilities should be satisfactory for good business dealing.

8) Expertise in The Product You Want to Purchase

The sourcing agent should have expertise in the sourcing product that you want to trade with. Check how they have dealt with this product in the past, as each product has different dealing techniques.

9) Good Ethics

The ethics in dealing and trading is important. A sourcing agent should make sure that the supplier they source out is reliable. They should ensure that the supplier takes care of the quality of the products.

Conclusion:

If you plan on sourcing the products for business from China, you must find the right China sourcing agent. A detailed analysis of how the sourcing agent has conducted its business in the past and their expertise in handling the trade and finding the right supplier will benefit your business.

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Elksourcing：How to Improve Your Vendor Relationship?

Apr 21, 2021 , by 露露

Sometimes, small business owners overlook the value of maintaining positive relationships with their vendors. For a business to succeed, it’s important they understand their vendors’ needs and build a strong relationship based on trust. Here are some valuable tips I learned from my experience.

1. Pay Your Bills on Time

As your vendors work on thin margins, cash flow is essential. When you consistently pay on time and respect agreed-upon conditions, you demonstrate appreciation for their contributions and your business rises to a “most trusted” status in the vendor’s eyes. This comes in handy if you need to call on the vendor for rush deliveries or other special requests.

2. Make Sure the Vendor Understands Your Goals

A vendor who “gets” your business is of far greater value than one who just goes through the motions of filling orders. Take the time to communicate your goals and where you plan to take your business in the future. Invite their suggestions on the role they can play in achieving these goals. A trusted vendor will likely have unique insights into the industry and offer helpful feedback you won’t find anywhere else.

Keep your supplier updated on planned product updates or a new launch. Extend an invitation to attend strategic meetings or to simply tour the office to get a better feel for your business. Consider visiting their place of business and learning more about how they operate as well.

3. Assign a Dedicated Vendor Manager

In most cases, the relationship works more efficiently when the vendor has a single point of contact within your business. Assign a person to take on this role and be responsible for ongoing communications. Under this arrangement, the vendor can quickly get an answer to questions regarding inventory, delivery, etc., instead of wasting time trying to find someone with the authority to make a critical vendor-related decision.

4. Find Out What the Vendor Needs from You

A strong relationship works both ways. When you understand how a vendor chooses to operate, the process generally runs smoother. Be sure you fully understand the payment terms and types of documentation the vendor requires, as well as their preferred channels and time-frame for orders and deliveries. Adjust your orders to meet these preferences and give them as much lead time on orders as possible.

5. When Mistakes Happen, Don’t Point Fingers

Problems are inevitable on the occasional processing or delivering of an order. Your vendor relationship will be strengthened if, instead of pointing finger and assigning blame, your vendor manager works with his or her counterpart to clarify the situation and take steps to ensure the same issue doesn’t crop up again.

6. Refer a Trusted Vendor to Others

When your vendor is contacted by a prospective customer that you referred, their loyalty to your business becomes stronger. This is a concrete way to show your appreciation for their services and it’s likely they will return the favor at some time in the future with a referral.

Businesses that see vendors as partners, rather than just another operational necessity, gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Because of the relationship they’ve developed, they can depend on vendors to come through in times of increased customer demand and to offer the best pricing arrangements available anywhere. In these situations, everyone wins.