A recent semi-annual report from the State Administration for Market Regulation reveals a clear blueprint for China's evolving administrative inspection system for businesses. In the first half of the year, market regulators nationwide conducted random checks on approximately 540,000 enterprises through the dual-random mechanism, with joint departmental inspections accounting for 27% of all checks. This approach led to a cumulative reduction of over 240,000 on-site visits, a drop of roughly 62%, while the problem detection rate climbed to 36%. As a result, about 200,000 companies were placed on the business exception list due to issues uncovered during these inspections.
Beneath these figures lies a quietly unfolding governance transformation. The shift from "each department checking separately" to "one consolidated check," from "arbitrary visits" to "QR code-verified entries," and from "manual assignment" to "system-driven safeguards" marks a sweeping evolution. The dual-random, one-open regulation model, combined with the "one comprehensive inspection" reform, is fundamentally reshaping how government interacts with the market, writing a new chapter in optimizing the business environment.
From Multi-Department Raids to a Single Coordinated Visit: The Institutional Rebuilding of Joint Oversight
For years, "multiple departments conducting separate inspections" has been one of the most acute pain points cited by businesses. Companies often found themselves overwhelmed as different agencies entered their premises independently, each running its own checks. In the first half of 2026, local governments leveraged the "one comprehensive inspection" initiative as a breakthrough, pushing cross-departmental joint oversight from mere physical coexistence toward true chemical integration.
In Pizhou City, Jiangsu Province, authorities fully implemented a "QR code entry" system, adhering to the principle of "no disturbance without cause, no visits without need," and removed 58 personnel lacking proper law enforcement qualifications to purify the inspection workforce at its source. Meanwhile, in Haimen District of Nantong City, the dual-random mechanism was seamlessly integrated with the "one comprehensive inspection" model, with cross-departmental checks comprising 69.3% of all inspections. The Jiangdu District Market Supervision Bureau in Yangzhou City consolidated various inspection tasks by the end of March each year, formulating an annual inspection plan publicly announced to eliminate arbitrary checks from the outset.
On May 19, market supervision and comprehensive administrative law enforcement officers in Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, formed a joint team to visit Zheshang Aquatic Products Co., Ltd., launching a "QR code-verified inspection" mode. They presented electronic law enforcement credentials alongside administrative action codes, allowing the company's management to scan and review all inspection items via the "Zheli Ban" app. "Previously, inspections made us nervous, but now everything is transparent and clear, and we feel much more at ease," one manager remarked, echoing the sentiments of countless business operators across the country.
In Lu'an City, Anhui Province, inspection tasks from 33 departments were consolidated and reduced from 318 separate tasks to 90 joint ones, cutting on-site visits by more than 1,990 times and reducing entry frequency by approximately 67%. In Tongling City, 100% of the 82 inspection tasks were conducted as joint departmental checks, resulting in a 40% reduction in business inspection frequency during the first quarter of the year. All inspection tasks were initiated through the unified "dual-random" platform, which automatically generated unique inspection codes that law enforcement officers used to scan before entering premises via the "Wanzheng Tong" app.
Liaoning Province comprehensively adopted the "one entry, multiple checks" model across its 14 cities, achieving full coverage of regulatory item lists and a new-type supervision mechanism coverage rate of 96.14%. In Panjin City, all administrative inspection plans were incorporated into the provincial platform, conducted exclusively through dual-random methods, with mergeable inspections combined into joint efforts. The province has now issued an implementation plan that uses smart systems to automatically filter out previously inspected companies, institutionally preventing duplicate assignments.
The core value of the "one comprehensive inspection" lies not merely in reducing the number of checks, but in redefining the logical starting point of government oversight—shifting from departmental authority to enterprise needs. When multi-departmental, cross-sector collaboration becomes the norm, the burden on businesses decreases significantly while regulatory efficiency improves, proving that institutional integration itself is a form of productivity. This reform underscores a key insight: optimizing the business environment begins with addressing the most resented pain points, using institutional force to transform "separate checks" into "one unified check," freeing enterprises from constant disruption so they can focus on production and innovation.
From Discretionary Visits to QR-Verified Entries: The Rigid Constraints of Digital Technology
If institutional design represents the soft constraint of reform, then digital technology provides the hard tools for standardizing law enforcement. In the first half of 2026, "QR code entry" and code-verified inspections were rolled out nationwide, ensuring that every business inspection is fully recorded, traceable, and subject to evaluation.
Shanghai has taken a leading role in institutional innovation. In May, the city launched a circuit-breaker mechanism for administrative inspections of enterprises—any inspection scheduled less than one month after a previous visit, routine checks exceeding annual frequency limits, or unauthorized on-site inspections of "no-disturbance" items or "no-sensation oversight" targets are automatically blocked by the information system, rendering them unable to obtain inspection codes. This dual lock of "technology plus institution" imposes rigid discipline on discretionary inspections. Concurrently, Shanghai promoted a "one visit, comprehensive consultation" joint supervision model, merging multiple inspections into a single coordinated check, with municipal departments establishing consultation mechanisms and forming joint inspection item lists.
Tianjin officially launched its administrative inspection system for enterprises on April 1, introducing electronic law enforcement credentials and fully implementing QR code-verified entries. The electronic enforcement code, uniformly generated by the supervision platform, serves as the unique digital identifier linked to each inspection action, ensuring consistency and universal applicability. In Huangchuan County, Henan Province, the province took the lead in deeply integrating dual-random supervision with the "Henan Enterprise Code," establishing a closed-loop model of "plans set online, tasks reported via code, entry verified by scanning, and results evaluated online." Joint dual-random inspection tasks must be pre-registered to generate task codes, allowing businesses to know in advance the inspecting department, items, and timing, and to anonymously evaluate law enforcement compliance after the check. To date, nearly 100 joint inspection tasks have been registered, with inspection frequency down 40% year-on-year. Sheqi County established the rigid requirement of "draw first, register second, inspect third," with officers required to scan and verify before entry, and companies able to verify the inspection entity and items themselves.
In Wuwei City, Gansu Province, the "Longshang E-Qi Cha" system was fully deployed, strictly enforcing pre-registration, QR code entry, code-verified inspections, process recording, result uploads, and enterprise evaluation in a closed loop, resolutely eliminating unregistered or excessive-frequency inspections. Since the system's launch, 305 inspection items have been compiled, and 3,183 inspections conducted. Pingliang City has issued 115 random inspection tasks, with cross-departmental tasks accounting for 95%.
Guizhou Province fully implemented the "QR code entry" system. The head of Guiyang Putian Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. noted, "Since the province introduced this system, our company has received only one inspection." From January to April, the number of on-site inspections in Guizhou decreased by more than 25,000 compared to the previous year. The rigid constraints of digital technology have left no room for arbitrary inspections to hide. QR code entry and code-verified checks place every enforcement action in the sunlight, making each inspection traceable, evaluable, and accountable. The essence of technological empowerment is the regulation of power—when systems automatically intercept illegal inspections and cut off excessive frequency assignments, the space for human intervention is minimized. This reform teaches us that standardizing business inspections requires not only institutional soft constraints but also technology-driven hard defenses, using digital tools to draw clear boundaries for enforcement power and making enterprises genuinely feel respected.
From Uniform Checks to Targeted Oversight: The Classification Logic of Credit Risk
Dual-random supervision is not about "egalitarianism" or "sweeping with a broad brush." In the first half of 2026, local governments deeply embedded credit risk classification management into the entire dual-random supervision process, achieving a qualitative shift from net-casting inspections to targeted oversight.
Liaoning Province classified 1.4 million enterprises into four credit risk categories (A through D), significantly reducing inspection frequency for A-rated companies to ensure non-interference, while intensifying checks on higher-risk C and D categories. After implementing this classification, the province's problem detection rate rose by 15 percentage points, and since 2025, joint supervision has reduced unnecessary administrative inspections by 140,900 times, helping 66,000 businesses restore their credit standing. Fujian Province fully implemented credit risk classification, applying a "trust-based exemption" policy for A-rated entities, prioritizing non-site methods like document reviews and data verification for B-rated entities, increasing sampling ratios and frequency for C-rated entities, and implementing key oversight for D-rated entities. In Longwen District, Zhangzhou City, at least 90% of sampling ratios were based on credit risk classification results.
Xinji City in Hebei Province issued plans for nine batches of "one industry, one inspection" joint random checks in the first half of the year. Taking pollution source enterprises as an example, sampling was differentiated by credit risk level: D-rated companies were sampled at 100%, C-rated at 40%, B-rated at 16%, and A-rated at 14%, ensuring that trustworthy entities remain undisturbed while dishonest ones face heightened scrutiny. In Changchun City, Jilin Province, the Chaoyang District branch established a "no-disturbance whitelist" system, placing over 8,000 businesses with excellent credit into the whitelist and fully promoting "online verification plus no-sensation supervision" models. One business owner remarked, "In the past, separate inspections by multiple departments consumed enormous energy. Now, the market supervision authority proactively coordinates cross-departmental efforts, bundling inspection items into one visit without repeated entry."
In Baiquan County, Heilongjiang Province, credit risk classification results drove differentiated supervision, reducing interference with law-abiding enterprises while increasing sampling frequency for higher-risk or dishonest entities. Harbin City defined inspection items covering 70 regulatory areas, including annual reporting, pricing, metrology, certification, catering, trademarks, advertising, and special equipment. Suihua City anchored its goals on "maximizing regulatory efficiency, optimizing regulatory costs, and minimizing interference with business entities," advancing dual-random supervision in depth.
Credit risk classification has transformed oversight from "searching for a needle in a haystack" to "precise targeting." Leaving trustworthy entities undisturbed while holding dishonest ones accountable is not a relaxation of regulation but rather a concentration of limited administrative resources where they matter most. The profound significance of this logic lies in the fact that when credit becomes the market's "passport" for resource allocation, enterprises naturally shift from passive compliance to proactive credit-building, creating a virtuous cycle of "better credit, fewer inspections, smoother development"—a fundamental hallmark of a mature market economy.
From Punitive Enforcement to Lenient Correction: The Flexible Expression of Enforcement Warmth
Standardizing administrative inspections of enterprises involves not only "subtraction"—reducing inspection frequency—but also "addition"—enhancing the warmth of enforcement. In the first half of 2026, local governments actively explored flexible measures such as "no penalty for first offenses," "exemption for minor violations," and "invitation-style services," making enforcement both firm and compassionate.
Pizhou City in Jiangsu Province pioneered "invitation-style services," where enterprises can proactively invite law enforcement departments for on-site guidance. The resulting "Invitation-Style Guidance Service Opinion Letter" serves solely as a rectification reference, not as a basis for penalties. The shift from passive acceptance of inspections to proactive invitation of services reflects a profound change in market supervision philosophy. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region conducted comprehensive risk classification of all licensed food production and operation enterprises, reducing inspection frequency for A-rated companies from at least once annually to at least once every two years. The region handled 1,029 cases of first-offense non-penalty and 662 cases of minor-violation exemption. Tacheng Prefecture became the first in the region to implement "QR code entry" reform, cutting inspection frequency by 35.67%. The general manager of Xinjiang Guanyuan Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. stated, "With the 'one comprehensive inspection plus QR code supervision' model, multiple departments now conduct merged checks in a single visit, allowing us to focus on production."
In Xining City, Qinghai Province, authorities advanced regulatory upgrades from five dimensions—expansion and efficiency, integration and optimization, intensive transformation, resource reorganization, and two-level linkage—building a joint departmental supervision system covering 36 departments across 64 fields. Golmud City integrated enforcement items to achieve "one visit, comprehensive inspection," with 16 joint sampling plans already formulated. Guangyuan City in Sichuan Province promoted "one-table comprehensive checks" and "QR code entry" methods, completing all 57 municipal-level joint supervision plans. Yingjing County applied non-interference for A-rated trustworthy entities and strict oversight for D-rated ones. Districts like Enyang in Bazhong City and Cuiping in Yibin City fully deployed annual sampling plans.
Flexible measures such as first-offense non-penalty, minor-violation exemption, and invitation-style services reflect a profound transition in market supervision philosophy from "control-oriented" to "service-oriented." Granting enterprises room for error correction does not condone illegality; rather, it stimulates their internal motivation for self-correction. Practice has shown that a balanced approach of firmness and flexibility not only upholds safety bottom lines but also preserves room for development. This reform teaches us that the ultimate goal of market supervision is to promote development—allowing trustworthy enterprises to operate unburdened, enabling minor mistakes to be corrected, and ensuring that optimizing the business environment embodies both regulatory rigor and humanistic care.
From Passive Compliance to Proactive Adherence: The Market Rebuilding of Integrity Bottom Lines
Standardizing administrative inspections of enterprises aims, at its core, to enhance business compliance awareness and solidify market integrity through precise and effective oversight. In the first half of 2026, approximately 200,000 enterprises nationwide were placed on the business exception list due to issues found during sampling—a figure that underscores the credit constraint mechanism's tangible impact.
Guangdong Province focused on building an "intra-bureau integration plus external joint inspection" model, with the provincial market supervision bureau collaborating with public security, ecology, and transportation departments on random inspections of provincial-level qualification-certified inspection and testing institutions. In Yunfu City, the emergency management bureau joined forces with eight departments, including public security, market supervision, and fire rescue, to conduct a "one comprehensive inspection" joint law enforcement visit to randomly selected Yunfu Yingde Gas Co., Ltd. Shenzhen City released its second batch of cross-departmental comprehensive supervision "no-disturbance" item lists and comprehensive supervision scenario lists. The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region issued the "Implementation Opinions on Strictly Standardizing Administrative Inspections of Enterprises," providing institutional safeguards for the entire region. In Jiangnan District, Nanning City, the Fujianyuan Street Office established the principle of "plan first, inspect later; no plan, no inspection," adhering to "merge when possible, coordinate rather than disperse." Cities like Baise and Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County regularly publicize dual-random sampling results, forming a multi-level, multi-field dual-random supervision system spanning from provincial to township levels and from market supervision to ecological protection.
Shanxi Province strictly implemented the provincial-level local standard "Dual-Random, One-Open Supervision Work Specification in the Market Supervision Field." Zhike Town in Zhongyang County adhered to the principle of "no disturbance without cause, one comprehensive inspection," limiting planned annual inspections to no more than one per enterprise. Lin County clarified that sampling coverage would exceed 3% of enterprises by year-end, with a 100% inspection result disclosure rate.
The placement of approximately 200,000 enterprises on the business exception list may appear stringent, but it is essentially a "mine-clearing operation" for the market integrity system. By exposing problematic enterprises through precise sampling and applying credit constraints, the system creates a fair competitive environment for law-abiding businesses. The mechanism of "violation in one place, restriction everywhere" transforms integrity from a moral exhortation into a rigid constraint. This reform teaches us that standardizing business inspections requires both "subtraction" in frequency and "multiplication" in efficiency—using precise oversight to drive proactive compliance, ensuring that the trustworthy enjoy greater convenience while the dishonest bear due costs, thereby consolidating the entire market's credit foundation.
"No disturbance without cause, always responsive when needed." This is not merely a slogan but a solemn commitment written through institutional innovation, technological empowerment, and philosophical transformation by market supervision authorities. In the era of building a unified national market and pursuing high-quality development, the dual-random supervision reform is quietly empowering millions of business entities to move forward with ease, unleashing market vitality in every corner of the economy.