New regulations, titled the "Supervisory Provisions on the Implementation of Food Safety Responsibilities by Online Catering Service Operators," will take effect on June 1. The rules were announced at a press conference held by the State Administration for Market Regulation.
The provisions specify the comprehensive management responsibilities of food delivery platforms throughout the entire chain, including merchant qualification reviews, information disclosure, process control, and issue resolution. Platforms are required to assume responsibility upon registration, accept supervision upon going online, and fulfill duties during operation, effectively embedding food safety accountability into every aspect, process, and decision of platform operations. The regulations caution platforms against merely collecting commissions without accepting responsibility and prioritizing traffic over quality. Delivery platforms must substantively act as the primary gatekeepers for food safety.
The issue of "ghost kitchens" has long been a pain point for food safety in online catering services. To address this, the new rules mandate that platforms conduct real-name registration for merchants and perform substantive reviews of business licenses, such as food service permits, through methods like on-site verification. This ensures that the information on the merchant's license matches the actual situation, going beyond a mere formal check.
Furthermore, platforms are required to verify the merchant's license information against data held by provincial market regulatory authorities. Any discrepancies found during this verification will result in the platform being prohibited from providing services to the merchant. This measure aims to break down data barriers between platforms and regulators, eliminate information silos, and achieve a system of "single-source verification, two-way calibration, and real-time feedback" for license information. This effectively blocks the path for false or expired licenses to be used to access the platform.
Additionally, the provisions stipulate that delivery platforms must verify and update key merchant information, including the actual business address and operating qualifications, at least every six months to ensure it remains accurate. This is not a simple periodic check-in but a shift from static entry approval to ongoing "lifecycle management." Platforms must proactively conduct information reviews, license validations, and random on-site spot checks during the verification window to ensure merchants continue to operate legitimately and effectively.