The FCC will withdraw recognition of multiple foreign-owned testing labs that certify electronics for the U.S. market, citing national security risks. The Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) issued notices on September 8 to begin proceedings against seven labs determined to be owned or controlled by the Chinese government. The decision follows new rules adopted in May 2025 that prohibit recognition of test labs and Telecommunications Certification Bodies tied to foreign adversaries.
The FCC identified eleven facilities in its initial investigation. Seven received formal withdrawal notices, including Chongqing Academy of Information and Communications, CQC Internet of Vehicles Technical Service, CVC Testing, CVC Testing Shanghai, TUV Rheinland-CCIC Ningbo, UL-CCIC, and CEST (Guangzhou) Standards. Four additional labs—China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), Shanghai Institute of Measurement and Testing Technology (SIMT), and CCIC Southern Testing—had their recognition expire or denied during the review process.
This action reinforces U.S. efforts to safeguard the equipment authorization process from foreign adversary influence. The FCC emphasized that equipment certification must remain free of control from entities deemed untrustworthy. “Foreign adversary governments should not own and control the labs that test the devices the FCC certifies as safe for the U.S. market. This is an important step in restoring trust in the Commission’s equipment authorization process,” the agency stated.
• FCC begins withdrawal of recognition from seven Chinese-owned “bad labs”
• Recognition of four additional Chinese-controlled labs expired or was denied renewal
• New rules prohibit labs and certification bodies controlled by foreign adversary governments
• Action follows May 2025 rule adoption and investigation into FCC-recognized labs
🌐 Analysis: The FCC’s move underscores rising scrutiny of Chinese participation in U.S. critical supply chains, particularly in the testing and certification of telecom and electronic devices. By targeting foreign-owned labs, the agency seeks to eliminate risks of compromised safety certifications or backdoors in consumer and enterprise technology. This policy aligns with broader U.S. government initiatives to decouple from Chinese technology infrastructure, mirroring recent restrictions on semiconductor, cloud, and telecom sectors. Expect heightened enforcement across related industries, with ripple effects on OEMs that may need to shift compliance testing to domestic or allied labs.
