The Chinese Baseball Association and the China Sporting Goods Federation have officially rolled out a unified tournament equipment access system, establishing domestic standards for baseball gear. Xiamen Zaifeng Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. secured the country’s first baseball equipment certification certificate under the new framework, becoming the inaugural approved enterprise following the launch of the catalog management system.
Xiamen Zaifeng Secures First National Certification
The new regulatory framework establishes a structured vetting process for equipment used in association-hosted and certified tournaments. Xiamen Zaifeng Sports Equipment Co., Ltd. cleared the newly implemented compliance checks to claim the nation’s inaugural certification. Regulators designed the rollout to transition the domestic baseball manufacturing sector away from unstandardized production and toward transparent, certified catalog management.
May 2026 Sports Expo Launch Introduces Unified Access Framework
The certification structure debuted in May 2026 during the 43rd China International Sporting Goods Fair, where the Chinese Baseball Association unveiled the catalog management system. The rollout marks the first complete implementation of an integrated collaboration model between a single-sport governing body and the China Sporting Goods Federation, spanning standards, testing, certification, and tournament access.
Addressing Industry Gaps Through Group Standards and Testing Infrastructure
Domestic baseball equipment manufacturing previously operated without centralized standards, formal testing protocols, or certification requirements. To resolve these industry bottlenecks, the Chinese Baseball Association and the China Sporting Goods Federation jointly drafted and published two group standards covering baseballs and baseball bats, eliminating the previous regulatory vacuum. The federation’s subsidiary, China Sporting Goods (Beijing) Certification Service Co., Ltd., serves as the designated testing and certification service provider for equipment and facilities. Collaborative efforts with professional sports universities and industry leaders yielded specialized testing equipment, allowing designated facilities to obtain China Metrology Accreditation (CMA) credentials and clear technical roadblocks across the supply chain.
Three-Step Implementation Roadmap Targets Full Enforcement by 2028
Under the administrative measures outlined in the association’s access management regulations and trial implementation rules, the system governs professional equipment through a transparent catalog. Regulators established a three-step timeline: publishing the access directory in 2026, running a trial implementation period through 2027, and achieving full enforcement across all covered competitions by 2028. The framework includes a dual-access mechanism allowing for third-party testing compliance or international certification mutual recognition, alongside dynamic catalog adjustments, official website public oversight, and annual registration fee waivers for compliant sponsors.
Association Outlines Future Support for Domestic Manufacturers
The Chinese Baseball Association stated that subsequent efforts will focus on standard promotion, certification application intake, and dynamic management of the tournament access catalog to help domestic manufacturers upgrade product quality and connect with international markets. Officials confirmed that certification applications remain open to the industry on an ongoing basis, with additional compliant products scheduled to enter the access catalog following evaluation.
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