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FCC drafts a December 2028 end to mainland China device testing for US approval
FCC votes October 29 on rules to bar device testing in mainland China by December 2028, where 82% of last year's authorized devices were tested. That gives hardware teams roughly two years to rebook certification work at labs elsewhere.
The Engineer · Build desk
Three figures. Per the FCC, 82% of devices approved for sale in 2025 were initially tested in China. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says fewer than 4% of electronic devices are tested in American labs. Per the FCC, earlier ownership restrictions cost 29 labs their recognition.
| Figure | Value | Note | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 devices first tested in China | 82 % per FCC | 2 | |
| US-lab-tested devices, fewer than | 4 % per Carr | 3 | |
| Labs that lost FCC recognition | 29 labs, per FCC | Under earlier ownership restrictions | 11 |
What happened
- Under the draft, recognition would be limited to labs in the US or in economies with reciprocal recognition agreements, so a Western company's lab in mainland China is covered too.
- Approved labs could not do substantive certification work in excluded countries: measurements, technical analysis and test-report preparation. Routine administrative work and research testing stay exempt.
- The reciprocal list runs to more than sixty regions, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan, according to dev.to. Mainland China is not on it.
- Existing certifications would remain valid, so devices already approved would not need another trip through a testing lab.
- The FCC says its earlier ownership-based restrictions cost 29 labs their recognition, but most Chinese facilities remained eligible.
Why it matters
- cost Smaller companies are likeliest to feel it first. TechSpot expects extra expense and delay when testing moves away from factories, and says approval costs for the next devices could eventually reach store shelves.
- constraint If volume moves as the 82% figure implies, slots at labs in reciprocal economies become what a launch date waits on.
- contradiction TechSpot describes a transition ending December 1, 2028, while dev.to says the measure would take effect that day. We would plan to December 1, 2028 as the last day for mainland certification work until the adopted text is published.
- exposure China's Commerce Ministry has promised retaliation, according to dev.to, so the FCC's date is not the only variable a hardware team has to plan around.
The 2025 version of this policy went after ownership. In May 2025 the FCC targeted labs owned, controlled or directed by blacklisted companies and foreign adversary governments [12]. In April 2026 it voted to advance broader restrictions and seek public comment [13]. The October vote would turn that proposal into adopted rules, assuming commissioners approve the draft [13]. The draft's test is location [8].
Hong Kong needs a second look. Steptoe, a law firm, notes that the latest draft includes Hong Kong and Taiwan among the eligible reciprocal economies [4]. Earlier reports had described the proposal as covering China and Hong Kong [4]. A plan built on those reports would put Hong Kong on the wrong side of the line.
Start with volume. According to the agency, 82% of devices approved for sale in 2025 were first tested in China [2]. That leaves 18% for every other lab combined [16]. Chairman Brendan Carr says fewer than 4% of devices are tested in American labs [3]. If all of China's share moved to labs elsewhere, those labs would handle about 5.6 times their current volume [17].
For that number to transfer to a given team, three things would have to hold. The 82% would have to count mainland labs only. Hong Kong and Taiwan labs would have to sit inside the 18%. And the work would have to move in full. A team whose lab of record is in Hong Kong or Taiwan faces a smaller problem than the aggregate suggests.
The FCC's stated reason is that concentrating so much testing in one country creates security and disruption risks [14]. Neither source includes lab capacity, fees or lead times for labs in the eligible economies.
What to watch
- The text commissioners adopt on October 29, and whether it keeps December 1, 2028 and the Hong Kong and Taiwan eligibility.
- What form China's Commerce Ministry retaliation takes if the rules are implemented.
- Whether labs in reciprocal economies publish capacity or lead-time changes as hardware teams rebook certification work.
Clarity's read
What the record supports and how the coverage leans. The claims behind it follow.
Reality
- Evidence58
- Adoption
- Insufficient
- Hype gap+12
- Incentives
- Insufficient
- Confidence62
Claim ledger
Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.
- [1]
The FCC will vote on October 29 on rules that would force manufacturers to move testing out of mainland China by December 2028.
- [2]
According to the agency, 82% of devices approved for sale in 2025 were initially tested in China.
ReportedSupportedSource: dev.to attributes the figure to the FCC; TechSpot reports the same 82% for devices authorized last year2 sources— create a free account to open themView cited source - [3]
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr says fewer than 4% of electronic devices are tested in American labs.
ReportedSupportedSource: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, as reported by TechSpot and dev.to2 sources— create a free account to open themView cited source - [4]
Law firm Steptoe notes that the latest draft includes Hong Kong and Taiwan among eligible reciprocal economies, whereas previous reports described the proposal as covering China and Hong Kong.
ReportedSupportedSource: Steptoe, via TechSpot2 sources— create a free account to open themView cited source - [5]
The list of countries offering similar treatment includes more than sixty regions, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan. Mainland China is not included.
- [6]
TechSpot describes the draft as having a transition ending December 1, 2028, which gives manufacturers roughly two years to find alternatives.
- [7]
dev.to reports that if the measure passes, it would take effect on December 1, 2028, giving companies two years to relocate their operations.
- [8]
Under the draft, recognition would be limited to labs in the US or economies with reciprocal recognition agreements, so a Western company operating a lab in mainland China would still be affected.
- [9]
The draft would prevent approved labs from carrying out substantive certification work in excluded countries, including measurements, technical analysis and preparation of test reports; routine administrative work and research testing outside the certification process would remain exempt.
- [10]
Existing certifications would remain valid, so devices already approved would not need another trip through a testing lab.
- [11]
According to the agency, its earlier ownership restrictions have already cost 29 labs their recognition, but most Chinese facilities remained eligible.
- [12]
In May 2025, the FCC initially targeted labs owned, controlled, or directed by blacklisted companies and foreign adversary governments.
- [13]
In April 2026, the FCC voted to advance broader restrictions and seek public comment; the October action would turn that proposal into adopted rules, assuming commissioners approve the draft.
- [14]
The FCC argues that concentrating so much testing in one country creates security and disruption risks.
- [15]
China's Commerce Ministry said the proposal would seriously harm international trade and promised retaliation if the rules were eventually implemented.
- [16]
About 18% of devices were tested outside China.
- [17]
If all of China's 82% share moved to labs elsewhere, those labs would handle about 5.6 times their current volume.
- [18]
Moving testing away from factories might add expense and delays, particularly for smaller companies, and the cost of approving new devices could eventually reach store shelves.
Sources
2 independent publishers whose own reporting we read for this story.
- dev.toUS prepares to ban electronic device testing in China
1 article · October 11, 2026
- techspot.comFCC plans to force electronics testing out of China by 2028, potentially raising costs for consumers
1 article · October 12, 2026
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Topics
- FCC Equipment AuthorizationFollow
- US-China Tech RestrictionsFollow
- Hardware compliance testingFollow