The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and eight other authorities have recently released the Guiding Opinions on Promoting High-quality Development of Catering Industry (the "Opinions").
The Opinions introduce 22 policy measures in seven aspects, specifically including: (1) raising the quality of catering services; (2) innovating the catering consumption scenarios; (3) promoting the development momentum of the catering industry; (4) carrying forward the excellent catering culture; (5) promoting the green development; (6) optimizing the business environment of catering industry, and (7) strengthening the organizational guarantees. The Opinions clarify that, actions will be taken to standardize and clean up enterprise-related charges; improve the coordination mechanism between banks and enterprises, and support the financing of catering enterprises through credit loans, intellectual property pledges, domestic and overseas listing, issuance of credit bonds and other channels. Meanwhile, all localities are encouraged to optimize the procedures for handling such matters as food operation, advertising, and promotion according to actual conditions, and further standardize grass-roots supervision and law enforcement. Efforts will also be made to maintain business order and lawfully investigate and deal with the violations in the catering industry involving unfair competition, infringement of consumer rights and interests, and other aspects.