Chinese GB2099 – China

Morvan Trading has a permanent commitment to providing the best customer service and value for money in the marketplace, with a wide product range, short lead times, unrivalled technical knowledge and full quality assurance.

All of Morvan Trading’s Chinese power cables and rewireable China plugs are independently inspected by the CQC China Quality Certification Centre, meaning they meet the requirements for GB2099 and GB1002 and bear the required CCC ‘China Compulsory Certificate’ approval mark. Copies of the approval certificates are held at Morvan and are available on request.

We currently stock the Longwell LSG-31M straight 10A, LSG-31L angled 10A and 16A, and LSG-21 2 pin 10A.

IP ratings are covered in China national standard GB 4208.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

The standard Chinese 10A plug is rated 250V and we hold as China C5, China C13. An all-round larger version, the Chinese 16A plug, has longer wider pins is used for higher current applications, which we stock as moulded China C19 and rewireable plug. A still larger 32A was introduced in 2025, although we do not yet yet stock these.

The three-pin plugs have live and neutral pins set at a 60-degree angle similar to the Australian type, but the 2 pin plug has parallel pins similar to the North American. We stock these 2 pin Chinese as moulded only, as a China C7. Rewireable plugs exist with pins that may be rotated between parallel and 60 degrees, but we have yet to source one that is both good quality and CCC approved.

Sockets usally accept both 2 pin and 3 pin 10A versions, although the 16A will have a separate, larger socket outlet. Regardless of plug or socket type, domestic voltage is 220V 50Hz. The Chinese-type plug is used in mainland China, the People’s Republic of China (PRC or PROC).

Other plugs used in China

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as a former British and  dependency, uses the old and new UK plugs. The Macau SAR as an ex Portuguese colony uses European and UK type plugs. The entirely separate nation of Taiwan (Republic of China) also uses a different type of plug also – see plug finder or relevant country pages.

Similarities to the Australian and Argentinian plug

Whilst visually similar to the Australian type, the Chinese plug has thinner, 1mm longer pins and until very recently no insulated sleeving on the live and neutral pins; also, only the Chinese plug has CCC approval.

Chinese sockets have the earth aperture at the top, which is the opposite of Australian sockets: this orientation is colloquially called the emu foot socket in Australia, as it resembles that bird’s footprint.

The Argentinian plug has an identical layout and also the absence of insulated sleeves, but has reversed polarity, i.e. line and neutral the other way round.

Chinese mainsleads must be on Chinese-approved RVV cable – see bulk cable page for more information on Chinese RVV flex.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

The National Standards of the People’s Republic of China are collectively the safety and standardisation documents issued by the Standardisation Administration of China. When mandatory, they are prefixed ‘GB’, e.g. GB 2099 for plugs. Recommended standards have ‘GB/T’, e.g. in GB/T 5023.5 for PVC cables. Guidance documents are headed ‘GB/Z’.

The relevant Chinese National Standard for our products is GB 2099: Plugs and socket-outlets for household and similar purposes, first published in 1980, and based on IEC60884. The main differences from IEC 60884 are temperature and humidity requirements for materials and testing, due to the tropical climate found in China, especially south of the Yangtze River. Part 1 (GB 2099-1) covers general requirements, and parts 2 to 7 specific ones: fused plugs, appliance sockets, fixed switched sockets, extra low voltage, convertors, and interlocking sockets.

GB 2099 part 1 applies to plugs and sockets (with and without earthing contacts), for household and similar uses, for indoor or outdoor use. It is alternating current only, with a rated voltage 50V to 440V, and a rated current up to 32A.

It specifically includes plugs in cord assemblies and extension cables, and when used as a component of an appliance. It excludes industrial uses. Plugs cannot be lower-rated than the socket or connector at the other end of the cord. Three phase is covered in the next standard, GB 1003.

The preferred types and ratings are:

Sockets may be either with or without safety shutters. One use of sutters is to prevent insertion of only one pin, if not already rendered impossible by socket design, e.g. a larger faceplate.

Electrical accessories shall have the following markings: rated current (amperes, A); voltage (volts, V); symbol for the nature of the power supply (e.g AC, ~; or DC, ⎓), symbols for neutral (N), ground (G, E, or ⏚), and line (L); manufacturer name; model number; and IP rating as applicable.

Our expert technical team is on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us

Chinese CCC plugs and sockets are specified in ‘GuoBiao’ or national standards documents GB 2099 and GB 1002, issued by the CNCA.

Chinese electrical product safety is governed by the CPCS or Compulsory Product Certification System, and approved products carry the CCC mark, ‘3C’ or ‘China Compulsory Certificate’ mark, three upper case letter Cs in an oval. Sometimes the type of certification is denoted in the CCC logo, e.g. a small letter ‘s’ to the right to denote ‘safety’.

CCC unified and replaced the two previous safety marks, CCIB (China Commodity Inspection Bureau) and the CCEE (China Commission for Conformity Certification of Electrical Equipment) ‘Great Wall’ mark in 2003, in part as a result of China joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001.

Generally the Compulsory Product Certification System (CPCS) is applied to products that directly affect human life / health, animals, plants, the environment, and national security. Electrical goods are in the published list of Mandatory Products, so cannot be imported or sold in China without the CCC mark and supporting certification. Certificates are valid for 5 years.

Contact our friendly technical team for more information call us on 01264 353489 or click here to contact us