Inspection, testing firms find a niche

Foreign-invested inspection and testing companies have gained momentum in China in recent years as the country has continued to open up, the country's top certification and accreditation regulator said on Tuesday.

Such companies deliver a wide range of inspection and testing services to ensure the safety and quality of products from motor vehicles, machinery and electronics to clothing, drinking water and precious stones.

The number of certified foreign-invested inspection and testing companies in China reached 301 as of the end of last year, most of them located in the more developed eastern regions, according to China's Certification and Accreditation Administration.