News & Insights

[ppzhan abstract] Starting May 1, the Express Delivery Service series of national standards will be officially implemented. The standards clearly set out rules on such issues as "inspect the goods before signing for them," "a cross-province shipment taking more than 7 days counts as a total delay," and "civilized sorting," and provide that couriers have the right to open and inspect packages when mailing them. Most consumers hold a positive and welcoming attitude toward the new national standard, but for the various provisions of the new express delivery standard to be truly put into effect, all relevant parties will still need some time. Outer packaging anomalies

[ppzhan abstract] To his regret, the reporter found that the three common supermarket paper cups he had bought himself — sold under the names Miaojie, Ke'aike and A — were printed all over with checks or patterns, in violation of the new regulation, which stipulates that "no printing should be done within 15 mm from the cup rim down the cup body, or within 10 mm from the cup bottom up the cup body." The official-use paper cups the reporter obtained from a certain organization did comply with this rule; apart from the printed characters of a certain organization in the middle, within the scope stipulated by the new regulation

[ppzhan abstract] Two weeks after the national standard for Courier Services took effect on May 1, consumers in many parts of the country still complain that even when the courier waybill states "the right to open the package for inspection," courier companies still force consumers to sign before inspecting, and some frontline couriers are not even aware of the new national standard. Some industry insiders believe that the several thousand courier companies in China are still locked in a chaotic price war, while the new national standard still lacks a strict oversight and penalty mechanism, and some small and medium-sized courier companies, in implementing

[ppzhan abstract] Starting from the 1st of next month, the new national standard for disposable paper cups will be officially implemented. The standard stipulates that there should be no printed patterns "within 15 mm from the cup rim to the cup body and within 10 mm from the cup bottom to the cup body," and that recycled materials must not be used as raw materials, among other requirements. Previously, disposable paper cups had only industry standards and lacked a national standard. This national standard (GB/T 27590-2011) sets higher requirements for paper cup raw materials, additives, packaging, printing, and so on,

[ppzhan abstract] Since June 1, three recommended national standards — Paper Cups (GB/T 27590-2011), Paper Bowls (GB/T 27591-2011) and Paper Lunch Boxes (GB/T 27589-2011) — have been officially implemented. Paper cups produced in accordance with the new national standards can no longer be used for alcoholic beverages, because the printed patterns on paper cups mostly use ethanol-based ink, which is an environmentally friendly ink, and when it comes into contact with alcohol

[ppzhan abstract] Going forward, tea trading enterprises that fail to establish a purchase inspection and record system and sell tea of "unknown origin" will face fines of 2,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan. Starting on the 1st of this month, a local legislative item concerning the development of the tea industry — the Regulations of Fujian Province on Promoting the Development of the Tea Industry — officially took effect. The Regulations set out provisions on implementing a tea quality traceability system, standardizing the use of tea fertilizers and pesticides, and carrying out the evaluation of famous and high-quality tea products,

[ppzhan abstract] Going forward, if express parcels delivered by courier companies in Shanghai show abnormal conditions such as obvious damage to the outer packaging, the courier company must proactively inform the recipient to inspect the contents before signing for acceptance. The Measures of Shanghai Municipality for the Implementation of the Postal Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft), submitted to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress for deliberation on the 7th, explicitly stipulates that courier companies should, in specific periods, announce their service commitments to the public in advance and inform the sender when accepting and collecting express items.

[ppzhan abstract] "In our research we found that this is both a good thing and a hard thing," Gan Zhongze admitted frankly. Given that the state has so far only established technical standards restricting excessive packaging for certain products such as mooncakes and cosmetics, and with no dedicated laws or regulations in place, for Shanghai to enact a local regulation there are indeed many issues worth discussing and exploring, "for example, where is the entry point for packaging reduction? What is the criterion for judging excessive packaging? Which behaviors should be the focus of

[ppzhan abstract] By tackling both the production stage and the circulation stage, over-packaged goods that seek to harm consumers may well find themselves unable to do so. Shanghai's legislation to restrict excessive packaging fills us with anticipation and gives us hope! Covering 12 aspects including legislative purpose, scope of application, basic principles, division of responsibilities and packaging requirements, the Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Promoting the Reduction of Commodity Packaging (Draft for Public Comment) are scheduled to be submitted in July to the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress

[ppzhan abstract] Yesterday, the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress held a deputies' symposium, at which people's congress deputies from the business community and from residential communities put forward opinions and suggestions on the commodity packaging reduction legislation that is about to be submitted for deliberation. Hu Yanzhao, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, attended the symposium. At the deputies' symposium held yesterday by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, deputies noted that over the just-past Dragon Boat Festival holiday, zongzi in simple packaging sold better. Several Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on the Reduction of Commodity Packaging