China has banned uncertified power banks from domestic flights in an aviation safety move that has caught some passengers off guard, resulting in the confiscation of thousands of travellers’ devices.
The country’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has brought in the emergency ban amid heightening concerns from the sector over the potential hazard posed by portable battery packs.
A rising number of aviation safety incidents involving lithium-ion technology have occurred in recent years. Most entail battery packs that have overheated and caused fire scares on board planes, such as the Air Busan blaze on the tarmac in South Korea in January 2025.
In response to these worries, individual airlines and operators have implemented rules for travelling with batteries, specifying battery type, capacity, and where it should be packed for flying.
✈️ Important Notice for Air Travelers in China!
— Shenzhen Daily (@szdaily1) June 26, 2025
Effective June 28, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued new safety rules for power banks on all domestic flights.
Your power bank is PROHIBITED if:
🔹 It does not have a 3C mark.
🔹 The 3C mark is unclear… pic.twitter.com/bfLK8dITXk
But in China, where a market regulation authority report recently found up to 44% of power banks inspected were substandard, there is now an embargo on all power banks that do not have proof of valid China Compulsory Certification – known as 3C or CCC. That’s a compulsory health and safety norm regulating the Chinese marketplace, however, the label only became official in 2023, meaning many travellers own devices that they purchased before the standard came into force.
Set in motion after only two days warning, the new rule has caught out so many flyers that thousands of power banks have been confiscated and are accumulating at Chinese airports.
With back-up power so important when one is travelling, authorities are advising passengers on the best way to avoid having one’s device confiscated. Top tips include ensuring they have read and understood the specific regulations in place with their carrier and destination. In particular, attention should be paid to battery capacity thresholds.
I’m on a 4 week trip to Europe and Asia, including China. Well, on June 28th China implemented a new travel rule where only power banks with CCC certification are allowed to on board, and they’ve been confiscating tons of batteries and power banks at airports since then!
— Yaya Han (@YayaHan) July 7, 2025
I… pic.twitter.com/xLxiQWR9II
Airlines, airports, tour operators and other stakeholders are also highlighting the need to raise passenger awareness, adapt and streamline check-in procedures, reinforcing compliance, while optimising passenger convenience.
Other ripple effects from the Chinese shift in rules have also been predicted. Travel and Tour World (TTW) notes that the new regulations could have “considerable implications for the consumer electronics market” driving change in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of power banks. “A shift in consumer behavior, influenced by airport restrictions,” could potentially “reshape market dynamics, prompting manufacturers to innovate and adhere strictly to aviation-approved safety standards,” TTW explained
