With a view toward strengthening the standardization of the commercial sector, improving the administrative system for standardization and enhancing the legislation and normalization of standardization efforts, the Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) recently revised the Administrative Measures for the Standardization of the Commercial Sector (for Trial Implementation) in accordance with the newly-revised Standardization Law of the People’s Republic of China as well as relevant supporting administrative systems. It did so by drafting the Administrative Measures for the Standardization of the Commercial Sector (Revised Draft for Comments).

The Administrative Measures for the Standardization of the Commercial Sector (Revised Draft) is comprised of 49 articles in 7 chapters, including:

• Chapter 1 ( General Provisions), which defines the standards and provides the time frame for creating standards;

• Chapter 2 ( Administration of Standardization), which establishes the duties of the competent commerce authorities at all levels in charge of the standardization of the commercial sector;

• Chapter 3 (Formulation of Standards), which sets out the specific requirements for the formulation of appropriate standards;

• Chapter 4 (Approval and Issuance of Standards), which stipulates the requirements for the administration of recordation and the issuance of standards;

• Chapter 5 (Request for Comments);

• Chapter 6 (Implementation, Review and Supervision of Standards); and

• Chapter 7 (Supplementary Provisions), which provide interpretations and explanations of the Measures.

 (Source: Department of Treaty and Law of MOFCOM)