FCC Hikvision & Dahua Ban: What You Need to Know for October 2025

If you work in security, IT, or facilities management, you’ve probably seen a new flurry of headlines this month about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Hikvision, and Dahua. This has led to some confusion, with many asking, “Is there a new ban? Did I miss an October 2025 deadline?”

Let’s clarify what’s happening. You didn’t miss a deadline. The original ban on new equipment from these companies has been in effect for years.

What you’re seeing in October 2025 is not a new ban, but a significant and aggressive expansion of the existing rules. The FCC is moving to close major loopholes, and these actions have immediate, practical consequences for any business that owns or is considering buying this equipment.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

1. The Original Ban (What Already Happened)

First, a quick recap. The concern, long-held by U.S. national security agencies, is that equipment from certain companies, including Hikvision and Dahua, could be used to conduct espionage or compromise U.S. national security.

Secure Equipment Act of 2021: This bipartisan act mandated that the FCC stop authorizing new equipment from companies on its “Covered List.”

FCC Order (November 2022): Following that law, the FCC formally adopted rules prohibiting the authorization, importation, and sale of all new telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from Hikvision, Dahua, and other “Covered List” entities.

This rule went into effect in 2023. Since then, it has been illegal to get FCC approval for new models from these companies, effectively banning them from the U.S. market going forward.

2. The Loopholes (What Was Still Allowed)

The 2022 order left two major loopholes that are now being addressed:

The “Previously Authorized” Loophole: The ban only applied to new equipment. Any product models that received FCC authorization before the 2022 ban could still be legally imported and sold. This created a “gray market” where old, but still functional, stock was readily available.

The “Component” Loophole: The ban applied to equipment manufactured by Hikvision or Dahua. It did not explicitly ban equipment from other “white-label” brands that simply used Hikvision or Dahua components (like circuit boards or sensors) inside their own products.

3. The New Crackdown (What’s Happening in October 2025)

This month, the FCC has taken two major steps to close these loopholes.

Action 1: The Online Retailer Purge

In early October 2025, the FCC announced that, at its urging, major U.S. online retailers have removed millions of listings for unauthorized or banned Chinese electronics. This includes products from Hikvision and Dahua that fell into the “previously authorized” gray market.

This is an enforcement action, not a new rule. It signals that the FCC is actively working with retailers to clear the supply chain, making it much harder to source this equipment, even if it was technically “legal” under the old rules.

Action 2: The Vote to Close Loopholes (October 28, 2025)

This is the big one. The FCC is scheduled to vote on October 28, 2025, on new, much stricter rules. These proposed rules are designed to:

• Ban “Previously Authorized” Equipment: Give the FCC the power to revoke existing authorizations for “Covered List” equipment. This would effectively ban the sale and import of all Hikvision and Dahua products, not just new models.
• Ban “Component” Equipment: Prohibit the authorization of any new device if it contains critical components from “Covered List” companies, even if the final product is sold under a different brand name.

What This Means for Your Business Right Now

Do Not Buy This Equipment: If you are considering purchasing any Hikvision or Dahua products (or their many white-label equivalents), stop. Even if you can find them for sale, they will have no future support, no path for updates, and will likely become a significant compliance liability.

Audit Your Existing Systems: You are not legally required to rip and replace existing, operational equipment… yet. However, you must identify what you have. Know where every “Covered List” camera and recorder is on your network.

Create a Replacement Plan: This is no longer a “when” or “if” scenario. Your organization must have a multi-year budget and a technical plan to migrate away from this equipment. With the FCC’s new focus, you can expect pressure from auditors, insurers, and prime contractors to accelerate this process.

Beware of “NDAA-Compliant” vs. “FCC-Banned”: Don’t get confused. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ban applies to use in federal government systems. The FCC ban applies to the entire U.S. market and makes it illegal to import or sell the equipment in the first place. The FCC ban is the more comprehensive rule.

In short, the news in October 2025 is a clear signal that the era of Hikvision and Dahua equipment in the United States is officially ending. The loopholes are closing, and any organization still relying on this gear is operating on borrowed time.

References and Citations

1. Federal Communications Commission. (2025, October 7). FCC FACT SHEET – Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain through the Equipment Authorization Program.
2. Federal Communications Commission. (2025, October 14). National Security Advisory No. 2025-01. (DA 25-927). Retrieved from https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-927A1.pdf
3. Federal Communications Commission. (2022, November 25). FCC Bans Authorizations for Devices That Pose National Security Threat. (Press Release). Retrieved from https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-bans-authorizations-devices-pose-national-security-threat
4. Reuters. (2025, October 11). US retailers remove millions of banned Chinese electronics, FCC says. As cited in Tech in Asia. Retrieved from https://www.techinasia.com/news/us-retailers-remove-millions-of-banned-chinese-electronics
5. The Economic Times. (2025, October 11). FCC cracks down on Chinese electronics as US retailers remove millions of devices over national security concerns. Retrieved from https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/fcc-cracks-down-on-chinese-electronics-as-us-retailers-remove-millions-of-devices-over-national-security-concerns/articleshow/124473692.cms