Online stores on Taobao and EachNet also need industrial and commercial registration.

by maker on 2008-07-14 22:49:30

 

Children shopping in online stores (file photo)     

    Experts say this move could stifle informatization and restrict the development of e-commerce.

    The e-commerce supervision opinion released earlier this month by the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce was further clarified yesterday - this opinion does not only involve e-commerce websites in Beijing, but also includes sellers in Beijing who open online stores on platforms like Taobao and EachNet within its scope of supervision. This has once again sparked heated discussions among experts, netizens, and online sellers. Yesterday, reporters learned from our city's industry and commerce department that our city will closely follow the steps of the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce, and at the latest, implement these regulations by October, similarly supervising Taobao and EachNet sellers in our city.

    New Regulations to be Implemented in Beijing Next Month

    At the beginning of this month, the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce officially published the formal e-commerce supervision opinion on its official website. The opinion indicates that starting from August 1st this year, profit-oriented online stores must first obtain a business license before they can operate. For enterprises or individual businesses that have already obtained a business license and whose online stores exceed their originally registered business scope, relevant change registrations must also be processed. Service providers who are found to have provided services to unlicensed operators without verifying their identities will be penalized.

    According to reports, as early as March this year, when soliciting opinions, officials from the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce had stated that this opinion mainly targets individuals setting up e-commerce websites and does not apply to national-level e-commerce platforms like Taobao and EachNet located outside of Beijing. Yesterday, a Beijing media report indicated that staff members of the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce stated that as long as users in Beijing register an online store or open a store on Taobao or EachNet, they need to register with the local Administration for Industry and Commerce.

    Response: Taobao and EachNet Undertaking Research

    Previously believing that this opinion did not concern them, it was unexpected that the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce suddenly included sellers opening online stores in Beijing on platforms like Taobao and EachNet within the scope of supervision. A related person from Taobao expressed to reporters yesterday that Taobao has been striving to build a system of integrity, and business registration is also a part of the integrity system. "Originally, it was said that Taobao, EachNet, and other large domestic e-commerce platforms would not be involved, but today things have changed, and we are paying close attention."

    A related responsible person from EachNet also stated that the website is currently studying all issues including how to define whether the operation of online stores is profit-oriented. "Everyone is definitely studying this."

    Chongqing: Business Licenses to Be Issued in the Second Half of the Year

    At the beginning of last month, our city's Administration for Industry and Commerce issued the 'Opinion on Carrying Out E-commerce Supervision' (draft for comments), stating that our city will strengthen the market access supervision of e-commerce operators, meaning those who use the internet for e-commerce activities with the purpose of making a profit shall legally register and obtain a business license before engaging in online business activities.

    Yesterday, a responsible person from the Electronic Supervision Department of our city's Administration for Industry and Commerce confirmed to reporters that our city will formally release the e-commerce supervision work opinion in late September or October, and the latest deadline for obtaining a business license and opening an online store in Chongqing will be October. "We just returned from learning from Beijing; sellers operating online stores on Taobao and EachNet within our city also need to register." The responsible person also introduced that the Administration for Industry and Commerce's supervision platform is being urgently developed, "roughly similar to Beijing's, details will be announced at the press conference."

    Voices:

    Experts: It Is Strangling Informatization

    The release of this 'Opinion' has also sparked enthusiastic discussions among experts from all sectors of society. The majority of experts believe that China's e-commerce market is still in its infancy and should primarily focus on guidance rather than regulation.

    Professor Kan Kaili from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications frankly stated that there will be significant problems in implementing and defining this opinion. He said, "Stores with high turnover are not necessarily profit-oriented, and those with low turnover are not necessarily non-profit-oriented." Renowned internet expert Lu Bowen severely criticized the new regulations in his blog, stating that this is not promoting but strangling informatization. He said this means that C2C sellers without other jobs will mostly return to the ranks of the unemployed.

Source: Xinhua News Agency http://www.cq.xinhuanet.com/business/2008-07/11/content_13786666.htm