If you source chargers or power strips from China, you have almost certainly asked a supplier this question: "Do you have CE?"
It's the wrong first question.
Not because CE doesn't matter — it does, and for the EU you cannot sell without it. But because the answer tells you almost nothing about how fast, or how cheaply, you can enter your next market.
The better first question is: "Do you have a CB report?"
Most buyers have never asked it. Most suppliers never volunteer it. And that gap is exactly where a lot of unnecessary cost hides.
CE is a declaration, not an approval
Start here, because it changes how you read everything else.
For chargers and power strips, CE marking is a self-declaration by the manufacturer. No EU authority reviews or approves it in advance. The manufacturer tests (or has samples tested), assembles a technical file, signs a Declaration of Conformity, and affixes the mark.
That system is legitimate and it works. It also means a "CE certificate" is only as good as the testing behind it. Which is why the document you actually want is not the certificate — it's the test report.
And if you plan to sell in more than one market, there is a specific kind of test report that is worth far more than the rest.
What the CB Scheme actually is
CB stands for Certification Body Scheme. It runs under the IECEE (the IEC's system for electrical equipment), and it exists for one reason: to stop the same product being tested from scratch in every country.
Here's the mechanism:
- A product is tested by a CB Testing Laboratory (CBTL) against an IEC standard — for chargers, that's IEC 62368-1.
- The results are written up in a standardised format (a Test Report Form, or TRF).
- A National Certification Body (NCB) issues a CB Test Certificate covering that report.
- Other member countries' NCBs recognise that report instead of retesting the product.
More than 50 countries participate. That recognition is the whole point: one test, many markets.
What a CB report buys you
Three things, in order of how much they matter.
1. Time
Going from a CB report to a national approval is usually a matter of weeks. Starting from zero — sample prep, lab queue, full test cycle, report, then the national application — is typically a matter of months. If you are trying to catch a selling season, that difference is the entire ballgame.
2. Money
You are not paying for a full retest. You are paying for the national differences only — the delta, not the whole standard. On a product family with several models, that adds up quickly.
3. Optionality
This is the underrated one. A supplier with CB reports can say yes when you ask "can we also do Korea? What about Saudi?" A supplier without them has to start a new project for every market, and will quietly quote you a price that assumes you only ever wanted one.
What a CB report is NOT
Be precise here — overclaiming is how trust gets destroyed.
- It is not a certification you can sell on. You cannot put a CB mark on a product or packaging, and you should not market a product as "CB certified." It is a report that other bodies use as a starting point.
- It does not replace the national approval. You still apply to the target country. The CB report makes that application cheaper and faster; it does not skip it.
- National differences still apply. A product tested to IEC 62368-1 at 230 V / 50 Hz still needs the local deviations checked — plug construction, voltage, frequency, marking language. Brazil at 127 V, Japan at 100 V with both 50 and 60 Hz, Switzerland with its own plug standard: these are not covered by the base report.
- Some markets don't use the CB route. The US, for example, does not grant approval through CB — you still need an NRTL evaluation (UL or ETL). But a CB report still helps: it gives the NRTL a tested starting point rather than a blank page.
How to read one: the fields that matter
When a supplier sends you a CB certificate, check these five things:
| Field | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Certificate number | You should be able to verify it with the issuing NCB |
| Standard | Should read IEC 62368-1 for chargers — not 60950-1, which is retired |
| Model numbers | Your exact model, including suffixes. A "family" listing only helps if yours is named |
| TRF number | Confirms the report format is standardised — without it, ask for the full report |
| Certificate holder | Does the legal name match the company you're buying from? |
And then ask the question most buyers skip: "can I have the full CB test report, not just the certificate?" The certificate is a one-page summary. The report has the sample photos, measured values and the actual tested configuration. If a supplier sends the certificate but not the report, that's worth understanding before you place the order.
Mistakes buyers make with CB
Asking for it too late. CB reports are most valuable at the sourcing stage. Once you have committed to a supplier and a tooling, switching because they don't have one is expensive. Ask before you sign, not after.
Assuming it covers everything. A CB report for a charger does not cover a power strip. Different standard (IEC 60884-1 for sockets), different tests — shutter strength, overload protection, cable anchorage. Check that your product category is the one on the report.
Treating it as a marketing asset. It isn't one. Use it internally to move faster; don't put it on the box.
FAQ
Is a CB report the same as a CB certificate?
No, and the distinction matters. The certificate is the one-page summary issued by an NCB. The report is the underlying test data. You want both, and the report is the one with the actual evidence.
How long does a CB report stay usable?
The certificate itself typically has no fixed expiry, but it becomes stale when the underlying IEC standard is revised. A report against a superseded standard version is worth much less. Check the standard version, not just the date.
If my supplier has CE, do they automatically have CB?
No. They are completely independent. CE is a declaration for the EU; CB is a test report under a separate international scheme. Many suppliers have one and not the other — which is precisely why asking matters.
Does every market accept CB?
No. Participation is broad but not universal, and acceptance always comes with national differences. Treat CB as an accelerator, not a passport.
What should I ask for, exactly?
One sentence: "Please send the CB test certificate and the full CB test report for this model, and confirm the IEC standard version." If they can do that in a day, you're dealing with someone who has their documentation in order.