Market watchdog hunts for violations ahead of expo

A 100-day law enforcement campaign targeting violations in 11 areas such as food safety, pricing, unfair competition and illegal advertisements was launched on Monday to guarantee the success of the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November this year, the city's market watchdog said on Monday.

The campaign will target locations including the National Exhibition and Convention Center and nearby areas, key business areas, tourist attractions and transport hubs, and will crack down on violations that disrupt market order and threaten the safe operation of the city, the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation said.

Crackdowns will be conducted at group meal delivery work units, banquet hosting venues, central kitchens, tourist attractions and hotels where big events are hosted to prevent the incidence of food poisoning, the administration said.

Officials will inspect manufacturers of high-risk foods like pre-packaged frozen meals and raw aquatic products to ensure food safety, the administration said.

Food businesses are ordered to guarantee food purchase checks, proper storage and personnel hygiene, and patrols will target food businesses near venues around the National Exhibition and Convention Center and reception hotels, tourist attractions and airports.

Unlicensed food operations will be closed immediately. Supervision and management of elevators in public venues and large amusement facilities will be enhanced.

The supervision and management of hotels and catering industries will be beefed up, particularly targeting random price hikes and extra charging of unmarked fees, as well as price fraud, the administration said.

Whipping up prices to cash in on the expo will be strictly cracked down on, it said.

The pricing crackdown will also target taxis, shared car-hailing services, public parking lots and tourism services, and regulate the price order of tour groups, ticketing of tourist attractions, shopping and entertainment in a bid to prevent visitors from being ripped off, officials said.

Patrols at shopping venues will be stepped up, targeting fake discounts, unclear pricing, random price hikes, and failure to implement government price guidance, the administration said.

E-commerce platforms, large shopping malls and supermarkets will also be covered in the pricing crackdown.

Acts representing unfair competition will be cracked down on and the protection on the business secrets of leading companies, famous brands, time-honored brands and technology intensive enterprises will be strengthened.

Pyramid sales related to the third CIIE will be eliminated.

Specific supervision over acts using the third CIIE as a stunt in online promotions that cheat and mislead consumers will be enhanced, the administration said.

Inspections of clothing, bags, toys and electronic products regarding the event sold online will be conducted to eliminate the illegal use of the trademark of the China International Import Expo Bureau.

Illegal advertisements cashing in on the event such as the unauthorized use of the registered trademark and mascot of the third CIIE are banned, and inspections will be conducted in areas such as health products, food, tourism, investment and beauty.