MEITUAN(HK:03690) 2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2025-10-16 12:36Core Viewpoint - The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has released a draft regulation focusing on enhancing transparency and accountability in the online food delivery industry, particularly addressing issues related to food safety and the management of merchants on third-party platforms [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The new draft regulation includes 45 articles that clarify the responsibilities of three main entities: online food providers, platform providers, and delivery personnel, covering the entire process from pre-audit to post-publication [2]. - A significant change is the requirement for merchants to provide monitoring footage of key food preparation processes, and platforms must upload and display this information prominently [1][2]. - The draft addresses the issue of "ghost kitchens" by enforcing a "one certificate, one store" policy, preventing the same business license from being used for multiple online stores on the same platform [1][2]. Group 2: Industry Context - The new regulations come amid intense competition in the food delivery sector, marked by a significant subsidy war among major players like JD, Ele.me, and Meituan since April [3]. - Increased traffic has led to renewed scrutiny over merchant qualification audits and food safety, with platforms facing warnings and penalties for inadequate merchant verification [3]. - Recent incidents have highlighted the prevalence of fraudulent practices, such as merchants using AI-generated images and third-party services claiming to guarantee audit approvals [3]. Group 3: Penalties and Compliance - The draft outlines specific penalties for non-compliance, including fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 yuan for platforms failing to conduct on-site audits of merchant qualifications, and fines from 5,000 to 30,000 yuan for approving non-compliant merchants [4]. - The regulation is currently open for public feedback, with a deadline set for November 16 [5].