United States of America: Federal Communications Commission's order withdrawing recognition from Chinese electronics testing labs entered into force

On 8 September 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order to withdraw recognition from Chinese electronics testing labs (ET Docket No. 24-136) entered into force. The order prohibits the FCC's recognition of any telecommunication certification bodies (TCB), test labs, or laboratory accreditation bodies owned or controlled by a prohibited entity. The FCC specified several "prohibited entities". These include entities identified on the FCC's Covered List of communications equipment and services providers deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the US. They also include the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List, BIS Military End User List, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. Additionally, they include the Section 5949 List of Semiconductor Companies, Department of Defence (DOD) 1260H list of Chinese Military Companies, and the Department of Treasury NS CMIC List of Chinese military companies. Finally, they include entities identified as "foreign adversaries" by the Department of Commerce. Any TCB, test lab, or laboratory accreditation body is considered "owned by" a prohibited entity when that entity controls an equity or voting interest of 10% or more. All recognised entities have been required to certify that this is not the case within 30 days of the order's implementation. Additionally, all recognised TCBs, test labs, and laboratory accreditation bodies are required to report, within 90 days after the effective date of the rules, all equity or voting interests of 5% or greater by any entity.