From 2023, authorities would conduct quality inspection of goods sold via e-commerce websites and check the actual state of goods against information provided on selling sites.
This is a proposal made by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) in a draft circular replacing Circular 12 of 2017 and Circular 26 of 2012 on state inspection of the quality of goods in circulation.
According to the MOST, depending on the severity of violation and consequences caused by inferior-quality goods, inspection agencies would consider publicizing in the mass media such information as names and addresses of goods sellers, names of e-commerce websites and names of goods.
Under the draft, quality inspection would be carried out either under annual plans or on an unscheduled basis. Inspections under annual plans must be approved by competent authorities but not notified to goods owners in advance. Meanwhile, unscheduled inspections would be conducted at the request of agencies in charge of state management of product and goods quality, upon receipt of complaints, denunciations or warnings from domestic and overseas organizations and individuals about quality of goods, or in case of detecting goods showing signs of inferior quality through goods quality surveys.
Goods quality inspection would cover examination of the display of goods labels, information on applicable standards, standard or technical regulation conformity marks, article number codes and barcodes, traceability, and other quality-related information.
Inspectors would also check goods preservation conditions against relevant standards and technical regulations or information stated on goods labels, goods’ conformity with applicable technical regulations or standards and enclosed documents. If necessary, samples would be taken.- (VLLF)
