By 2026, IECEE-CB Scheme Certification is no longer a simple "one certificate for global access" process, but a systematic project of "precise product categorization + dynamic standard adaptation + pre-judgment of transfer differences." Clarifying three questions before application can save you 80% of detours: Is your product a finished product or a key component? Do you need to assess overall safety or specific risks (such as photobiological safety)? What is the latest mandatory standard in your target market? This is the "trinity" decision-making framework we summarized from practical operations, which is much more efficient than blindly seeking laboratory testing.

I. 2026 IECEE-CB Scheme Certification: Latest Eligibility Scope

First, a key data point: As of the beginning of 2026, the IECEE-CB Scheme has 54 confirmed member countries, covering major export markets such as the EU, the US, and Saudi Arabia. However, not all electrical products are eligible for application. In 2026, product definition still follows the "scenario + attribute + risk" three-dimensional judgment method, but with additional practical details:

1. Clearly Eligible Core Products

·Household Appliances: Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, electric kettles, rice cookers, etc., corresponding to the IEC 60335 series standards. In practice, we’ve found that many companies overlook the "difference statement for product families," leading to extended certification cycles. It’s recommended to sort out model differences in advance;

·IT & Office Equipment: Computers, routers, printers, power adapters. As of 2026, testing under the new IEC 62368-1:2024 standard is fully mandatory, and reports based on the old 2018 version are completely invalid;

·Lighting Equipment: Ordinary lighting products such as LED ceiling lights and desk lamps follow the IEC 60598 series. For products with photobiological safety requirements (e.g., LED spotlights, UV disinfection lamps) – note that as of February 1, 2025, the ACP mode has been officially adopted, and the traditional CB path is no longer available;

·Power Tools & Power Equipment: Household electric drills, lithium batteries, chargers, home energy storage batteries (≤10kWh), corresponding to standards such as IEC 60745 and IEC 62133. For energy storage products, BMS compatibility testing is a new requirement in 2026 and a key certification challenge;

·Other Electrical Products: Wires & cables, switches & sockets, safety transformers, following series such as IEC 60884 and IEC 61558. Testing for these products is relatively simple, but core components must provide compliance certificates.

2. Clearly Ineligible Products

·Non-electrical Products: Purely mechanical products (e.g., manual screwdrivers), complete medical devices. However, it’s important to note that electrical components inside medical devices (e.g., power modules, motors) can be individually applied for CB certification – a common misunderstanding among many medical device companies;

·Low-Power Exempt Products: USB fans, small electric toothbrushes with operating voltage ≤50V and power ≤50W. Certification is not required, but product parameter certificates must be retained for customs inspection;

·Special Control Products: RF communication devices such as Bluetooth headsets and mobile phones. Wireless modules require separate RF certification, as the CB scheme does not cover communication function testing;

·Small-Scale Personal Use Products: Enterprises importing ≤5 units for internal use only need to provide a self-use declaration and do not require certification, but must comply with the target country’s customs requirements.

3. 2026 Newly Eligible Products & Easily Confused Cases

·Newly Added Eligible Products: Home solar energy storage integrated systems (≤10kWh), electric bicycle chargers (household version, 127V), wired smart gateways (without wireless functions). These were officially included by IECEE after 2025, and many companies previously mistakenly believed they were not covered;

·Easily Confused Cases: Smart air conditioners cannot rely solely on CB certification – electrical safety + energy efficiency fall under CB, while Wi-Fi modules require separate IFT certification; Household electric drills with power exceeding 1500W need supplementary high-power overload protection testing and cannot use small-power standards; Microwave ovens are not covered by CB and require the NOM NYCE scheme.

  II. Core Standards for IECEE-CB Scheme Certification

From 2024 to 2026, multiple core standards of the CB scheme have been revised with stricter testing requirements. The official usually provides a 1-2 year transition period, but new applications are recommended to adopt the latest standards directly to avoid report invalidation during subsequent certification transfers. Standards are categorized into "basic safety + special supplementary + new regulation upgrades" for clarity:

1. Basic Safety Standards

·IEC 60335 Series (Household Appliances): The 2024 version is fully effective, adding extreme condition testing – for example, air conditioner shell temperature must not exceed 65℃ during ±10% voltage fluctuations; Electric kettle dry-heating protection response time must be ≤0.5 seconds (manual reset required). One of our clients previously tested to the old standard with a response time of 0.8 seconds and had to modify the circuit for retesting;

·IEC 62368-1:2024 (IT/AV Equipment): Replaces the old 2018 version, adding battery safety and basic EMC assessment. A common misunderstanding to correct here: The CB scheme does not completely exclude EMC; some products have incorporated relevant requirements, and CBTL laboratories such as Guangdong Provincial Medical Device Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute have explicitly obtained EMC testing qualifications;

·IEC 60598 Series (Lighting Equipment): The 2024 version increases insulation resistance requirements from ≥5MΩ to ≥10MΩ and raises shell impact test standards. LED lighting companies need to pay attention to material selection.

2. Special Supplementary Standards

·Refrigeration/Heating Appliances (Air Conditioners, Refrigerators): Superimpose special standards such as IEC 60335-2-40 (air conditioners) and IEC 60335-2-24 (refrigerators). In 2026, tropical climate adaptation testing has become mandatory – simulating 72 hours of continuous operation at 35℃ with performance attenuation ≤10%;

·Products with Heating Functions (Electric Water Heaters, Irons): Supplementary IEC 60335-2-11 standard requires power cutoff within 3 seconds during dry heating and temperature control error ≤±2℃;

·Energy Storage Battery Products: Supplementary IEC 62133-2 standard. In 2026, thermal runaway protection testing is newly added – a key point where many companies fail certification. Pre-testing is recommended in advance;

·Smart Appliances: Although EMC testing is not mandatory for CB, it is likely required when transferring to EU CE or US UL certification. In practice, pre-testing in China is recommended to avoid delays from supplementary testing during transfer.

3. 2026 Key New Regulation Upgrades

·ACP Mode Official Implementation: As of February 1, 2025, products involving photobiological safety (IEC 62471) or lasers (IEC 60825-1) must apply for ACP Conformity Certificates, and traditional CB certificates are no longer accepted. One of our clients manufacturing LED spotlights was unaware of this new regulation, tested under the traditional CB mode, and had their UL certification transfer rejected – they had to restart the ACP path, delaying the process by 2 months;

·New Motor Standard: IEC 60034-26:2026, released in January 2026, first regulates high-temperature demagnetization and EMC test indicators for rail transit permanent magnet motors. Relevant companies need to adjust product designs in advance;

·Strengthened Transfer Difference Requirements: The 54 member countries have stricter difference requirements. For example, transferring to US UL requires supplementary US plug testing and safety warning compliance checks; transferring to Mexico NOM requires 127V/60Hz voltage adaptation testing. It’s recommended to confirm target market differences with the laboratory in advance during CB application to cover them in one go.

The core of IECEE-CB certification in 2026 is "precision" and "proactivity" – precisely matching product categories with the latest standards, and proactively anticipating transfer differences and certificate maintenance needs. It is not simply about "obtaining a certificate," but about building a globally applicable compliance framework for products to avoid repeated pitfalls in various markets. BLUEASIA: +86 13534225140 – We provide professional certification consulting services.