Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the implementation of a new national standard for food delivery platforms in China, aimed at addressing the issue of "ghost restaurants" and ensuring compliance with regulations [1]. Group 1: Regulatory Changes - The State Administration for Market Regulation has introduced a recommended national standard that requires merchants to provide a video showing their store's location, which must be verified by the platform against business licenses [1]. - The standard aims to combat the prevalence of "ghost restaurants," which operate without proper licenses and can mislead consumers [1]. Group 2: Issues Identified - Investigations reveal that many food delivery platforms list restaurants that do not exist at the addresses provided, such as "Ming Ge BBQ Rice," which claims to operate from a non-existent location [2]. - Numerous high-volume restaurants on platforms like Taobao and JD are found to have misleading information, with actual conditions differing significantly from what is advertised [5][7]. - Some merchants are operating multiple listings across different platforms, using the same physical location to create the illusion of multiple independent restaurants [9]. Group 3: Fraudulent Practices - A network of intermediaries offers services to help merchants bypass platform regulations, including creating fake videos and documents to pass verification [10][11]. - These intermediaries claim that they can facilitate the opening of restaurants without a physical location, charging fees for their services [11]. - The article highlights a concerning trend where even those without any licenses can purchase ready-made accounts with all necessary documentation for a fee [11]. Group 4: Enforcement and Consumer Awareness - Despite ongoing efforts by platforms and regulatory bodies to eliminate "ghost restaurants," the problem persists, necessitating continued vigilance from consumers and stricter enforcement measures [12]. - Platforms like Meituan and JD have reported significant actions against unqualified merchants, with Meituan removing nearly 30,000 non-compliant stores [12].
福州多所高校周边潜伏“幽灵外卖”,黑作坊通过中介造假包装变“正规店铺”入驻外卖平台
Huan Qiu Wang·2025-12-16 03:53