Introduction to the Legal Framework and

Basic Information of Tyre Product in China

By Mr. Cai WeiminChina Rubber Industry

Association (CRIA)

Brussels, October 26, 2010

Content CCC system in China regarding tyre products Regulations and certification procedures for imported

tyres China’s tyre product standards Preconditions for acquiring Chinese tyre certificates Other regulations in China related to tyre market and

products How could the Chinese consumers understand the tyre

performance and the marking on the tyre China’s perception of EU tyre technical regulations

I. CCC system in China regarding tyre products

According to the PRC Law on Product Quality, Import and Export Commodity Inspection and its implementing regulation, Regulations of the PRC for the Administration of Product Quality, and PRC Regulation for Compulsory Product Certification, the PRC General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and China National Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) promulgated the Notice No. 33 of 2001 concerning the First Product Catalogue Subject to Compulsory Certification.

I. CCC system in China regarding tyre products

Automobile tyres are under the item 13 with 3 sub-categories: Passenger car tyres, truck tyres and motorcycle tyres.

Starting from May 1st 2003, products that doesn’t have CCC certificate or the CCC mark at ex-factory level would be disallowed for retailing. Those without the mark cannot be imported.

II. Regulations and certification procedures for imported tyres

According to Decree No.5/2001 of the AQSIQ,and Notice No.33/2001 of AQSIQ and Notice No.2/2001 of CNCA, tyre products that are listed in the Compulsory List shall acquire CCC certificate and marking before being imported or sold in China.

II. Regulations and certification procedures for imported tyres

CCC certification procedure for tyre products ① Application filed by importer to accreditation body (HQC, Zhong Hua Combination Quality Certification Company, and CQC, China Quality Certification Center) designated by the government；②Inspection of factory where the tyre is produced；

II. Regulations and certification procedures for imported tyres

CCC certification procedure for tyre products③Sampling examination of tyre products by China National Tyre Test Center and Qingdao National Testing Center；④Evaluation of certification results and approval ；⑤Surveillance after approval.

III. China’s tyre product standards

Tyres produced, sold and put in use in China must conform with the national standards as promulgated by the CNCA and AQSIQ. The passenger car tyres and truck tyres also need to acquire CCC certificate.

Passenger car tyre: GB9743—2007 Truck tyre: GB9744—2007

III. China’s tyre product standards

The above mentioned standard lists the specification, load index, ply rating, rim measuring, overall diameter and section width of inflated new tyre, load capacity, inflated pressure, minimum dual spacing, and requires that the speed has to correspond with loaded pressure according to GB/T2978 and GB/T2977 standards. It also stipulates detailed safety requirements (tyre strength, durability, high speed performance, tyre wear, appearance and quality), testing methods, and marking.

III. China’s tyre product standards

Table 1 and 2 contains truck tyre strength information, table 3 and 4 are for passenger car tyre strength. For the strength test for metric series truck tyre, the breaking energy at each testing point shall not lower than that stipulated in table 1.

Table 1, Minimum breaking energy for Metric Series

truck tyreSingle tyre Load Index

Pressure corresponding to

minimum single tyre load /kPa

Minimum breaking energy /J

Nominal rim diameter ＜13

Nominal rim diameter ≥13

≤121

≤250 136 294251~350 203 362351~450 271 514451~550 — 576551~650 — 644＞650 — 712

≥122

≤550 972

551~650 1412

651~750 1695751~850 2090851~950 2203

Table 2, Minimum breaking energy for Imperial Series truck tyre (J)

ply rating （PR）

Light-duty truck tyre truck tyre

Nominal rim

diameter ≤12

Nominal rim

diameter 13~14

Nominal rim

diameter ≥15

Nominal rim

diameter ≤17.5

Nominal rim diameter ＞17.5

With inner tube

Without inner tube

4 136 192 294 294 — -—6 203 271 362 362 768 5768 271 384 514 514 893 734

10 339 314 576 576 1412 972

12 — — 644 644 1785 1412

14 — — 712 712 2282 169516 — — 768 768 2599 209018 — — — — 2825 220320 — — — — 3051 —22 — — — — 3220 —

Table 3, Minimum breaking energy for passenger car tyre (J)

Nominal section width

Radial Tyre Bias Tyre

Standard StrengthenedNylon or Polyester Rayon

4PR、 6PR 8PR 4PR、6PR 8PR

Under 160㎜ 220 439 220 439 132 263

160㎜ and above 295 585 295 585 177 351

For T type spare tire, those with load index less than 76 shall have the minimum breaking energy of 220j; those with load index at and above 76 shall have the minimum breaking energy of 295j.

Table 4, Unseating resistance test for

tubeless passenger car tyres

Nominal section widthS/㎜ S＜160 160≤S＜205 S≥205

Minimum resistance /N 6670 8890 11120

For T type spare tyre, those with load index less than 76 shall have the minimum resistance of 6670N; those with load index less than 93 shall have the minimum resistance of 8890N; those load index at and above 93 shall have the minimum resistance of 11120N.

IV. Preconditions for acquiring Chinese tyre

certificates

The core of the tyre certification system is to acquire the certificate issued by government designated accreditation bodies and certification marks before being sold, imported or used in China. (Products produced in China need to be marked at ex-factory level; imported products need to be marked before importation.)

IV. Preconditions for acquiring Chinese tyre certificates

Producers, retailers and importers shall file application with government designated accreditation bodies and has the obligation to be certified.

（1）Such government designated accreditation bodies are:A. HQC, Zhong Hua Combination Quality Certification Company, and B. CQC, China Quality Certification Center.

（2）Application documents shall be submitted so that the certification can be arranged. The applicants shall provide necessary assistances, ensure their certified products constantly meet certification requirements and that all products sold and imported by them are certified. Products shall be marked according to relevant regulations, subject to supervision by AQSIQ institutions and shall pay certification

fees.

IV. Preconditions for acquiring Chinese tyre certificates

The accreditation bodies accept the application and arrange the certification process: application-acceptance-factory inspection-sampling-evaluation and approval-supervision after certification.

A、In factory inspection, the ability to ensure product quality and consistency will be checked.

B、In sampling, samples are sent to government designated test centers.

C、Accreditation bodies observe confidentiality for applicants and products, bear relevant legal responsibility and are accountable for certification results.

V. Other regulations in China related to tyre

market and products

As promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce of China on Sept. 27, 2008, and implemented as of Mar. 1, 2009, the Business Regulation for Tyre Distributors SB/T10468 have two parts:

SB/T10468 •1—2008 Business Regulation for Tyre Distributors-Management Requirement；SB/T10468 •2—2008 Business Regulation for Tyre Distributors-Reclaim Requirement.

V. Other regulations in China related to tyre market and products

These two regulations made clear stipulations regarding the pre sale, sale, and after sale services, quality inspection, principles, coverage, conditions and types of reclaim.

The responsibility of producers, distributors, users/consumers and repairers are also provided.

VI. How could the Chinese consumers understand the

tyre performance and the marking on the tyre

Besides advertisements, Chinese consumer acquire knowledge about tyre performance through the following ：1、Introduction to distributors and user guide made by producers;2、Marks on the tyre sidewall

VI. How could the Chinese consumers understand the tyre performance and the marking on the tyre

Sidewall markings include:①CCC mark ；②Specifications: trademark, name of producer, load indices and capacity, ply rating, inflated pressure, speed symbol, name or code of materials used in the crown and framework in sidewall, production serial numbers, etc ；③Tread wear marks ；④Radial Tyre should have the mark of “RADIAL”, and Tubeless tyre shall have the mark of “TUBELESS” ；

VI. How could the Chinese consumers understand the tyre performance and the marking on the tyre

Sidewall markings include⑤Light-duty truck tyre should have the mark of “ULT” or “LT” ；⑥Tyres with directional tread pattern should have direction marking ；⑦Snow and mud tyre should have marking for snow and mud tread pattern ；⑧Special trailer tyres should have ST marking ；⑨Regroovable tyres should have the “REGROOVABLE” marking ；⑩Spare tyres for temporary use should have temporary use marking.

VII. China’s perception of EU tyre technical

regulations In recent years, the numerous technical standards, regulations

and directives published by the EU put pressure and challenge on the Chinese industry, but could bring opportunities as well.

Pressure: competitiveness and export of Chinese tyres to the EU will be affected. The R&D cost and technical threshold will be higher as a result.

Challenge: these regulations require imported tyres to become energy-efficient with lower rolling resistance. However, such requirement is in line with the low carbon development trend of the tyre industry, which also brings about opportunities.

VII. China’s perception of EU tyre technical regulations

Firstly, it is in conformity with the corporate social responsibility to develop energy saving, environmental friendly and low carbon tyres;

Secondly, such tyre products are in line with the industrial development trend. The Chinese tyre industry will enhance R&D investment, expedite the restructuring of the production with scientific approach, focus on the low carbon tyre under the precondition of safety as the new strategy, expand new space for development, so as to export qualified tyre products to the EU, and improve Chinese tyres’ competitiveness in due course.

VII. China’s perception of EU tyre technical regulations

Thirdly, suggestions and recommendations as follows: 1. The authorities of EU and China should intensify exchange and cooperation, establish mutually recognized tyre testing bodies in order to cut the red tape and reduce the burdens of the economic operators;2. The ETRMA should have more frequent communication with the CRIA in order to reach consensus over some technical standards and achieve a win-win scenario.

谢 谢！Thank you