BEIJING -- From September 1, China will require child safety seats to pass compulsory safety checks before distribution, the top quality watchdog and accreditation regulators said.

Thereafter, child safety seats without China Compulsory Certification (CCC) will not be sold, imported or used, according to the decision by the nation's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Certification and Accreditation Administration.

China has a low rate of child safety seat use, despite their reduction of harm to children in traffic accidents.

CCC is the statutory compulsory safety certification system and a basic approach to protecting consumers' rights and interests that came into force in May 1, 2002.