JD(US:JD) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-05-26 06:25Core Viewpoint - The State Administration for Market Regulation has released a draft guideline for the compliance of charging behaviors on online transaction platforms, particularly targeting the food delivery industry, aiming to rectify the industry ecosystem and ensure fair practices [2][12]. Summary by Relevant Sections Guideline Principles - The guideline emphasizes that platform charges must adhere to principles of fairness, legality, and good faith, considering service agreements, transaction rules, and the operating conditions of platform operators [3]. - It encourages platforms to reduce the burden on operators, especially small and medium-sized businesses, by adopting flexible pricing strategies and providing support [3]. Compliance and Self-Regulation - Platforms are required to implement compliance management responsibilities, establish compliance management organizations, and enhance their capacity for compliance management regarding charging behaviors [4][5]. - The guideline specifies eight types of unreasonable charging behaviors, including duplicate charges, charging without providing services, and price discrimination among operators [4][6]. Supervision and Implementation - Platforms must promptly address charging concerns from operators, cooperate with supervision, and engage in fair market competition [4]. - The guideline mandates that platforms must establish mechanisms for identifying and assessing risks related to unreasonable charges [5][6]. Transparency and Fairness - The guideline highlights the importance of transparency, requiring platforms to publicly disclose charging items, rules, and standards prominently on their homepage [7][10]. - It also states that operators can opt out of the platform if they do not accept changes to charging rules, ensuring a principle of voluntary participation [7][8]. Specific Charging Regulations - The guideline outlines that charging items must correspond to service content, and the rules should be clear and easy to understand [10]. - It also addresses the collection of deposits, stating that platforms must carefully assess the necessity of such charges and ensure proper management of these funds [11]. Industry Context - The release of this guideline follows increased regulatory scrutiny of major food delivery platforms like Meituan and JD, indicating a shift towards stronger regulation in the food delivery sector [12].