What just happened? The FCC's crackdown on Chinese electronics testing labs continues to move forward, this time with a proposed deadline for cutting them out of the US approval process. The commission will vote on October 29 on rules that would force manufacturers to move testing out of mainland China by December 2028. With 82% of devices authorized last year tested in the Asian nation, it could be a relocation headache for the companies affected.

The restrictions would cover test labs and certification bodies in countries that deny reciprocal treatment to their US counterparts. Chairman Brendan Carr says fewer than 4% of electronic devices are tested in American labs.

If this all sounds familiar, there's a reason. In May 2025, the FCC initially targeted labs owned, controlled, or directed by blacklisted companies and foreign adversary governments. There was also a separate proposal to extend restrictions to every lab in China.

In April 2026, the FCC voted to advance broader restrictions and seek public comment. The latest action would turn that proposal into adopted rules, assuming commissioners approve the draft, with a transition ending December 1, 2028.

Compared with the original 2025 restrictions, the broader proposal focuses on where the testing happens. Under the draft, recognition would be limited to labs in the US or economies with reciprocal recognition agreements. That means a Western company operating a lab in mainland China would still be affected.

Previous reports described the proposal covering China and Hong Kong, but law firm Steptoe notes that the latest draft includes Hong Kong and Taiwan among eligible reciprocal economies.

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