Core Viewpoint - The introduction of the "Basic Requirements for the Management of Delivery Platform Services (Draft for Comments)" marks a new era of regulatory standards for the food delivery industry, focusing on food safety, merchant operational burdens, and rider rights protection, aiming to address public concerns and inject new vitality into the sector [1][9]. Group 1: Regulation and Market Competition - The draft addresses issues of "involution" competition among delivery platforms, which has intensified due to aggressive subsidy wars, leading to market disorder [2]. - It emphasizes the need for platforms to adhere to legal regulations, maintain fair competition, and clarify their responsibilities towards merchants and riders [2][9]. - Specific measures include optimizing platform fee structures, ensuring transparent pricing, and managing promotional activities to prevent unfair practices [2][8]. Group 2: Food Safety Standards - The draft introduces stringent requirements for merchant qualifications to combat "ghost restaurants," which operate without proper licenses, posing food safety risks [3][4]. - It mandates that merchants provide valid operating licenses and undergo thorough verification processes to ensure compliance [3][4]. - A new "order control prompt" mechanism will be implemented to monitor merchant order loads and prevent service overload during peak times, thereby maintaining food quality [4][10]. Group 3: Rider Rights and Welfare - The draft outlines comprehensive solutions for rider rights, focusing on fair compensation, work hours, and social security [6][10]. - It establishes limits on working hours and mandates rest periods for riders to prevent overwork and health risks [6][10]. - Platforms are required to disclose payment structures and ensure riders are not overburdened with excessive workloads [6][10]. Group 4: Merchant Rights and Responsibilities - The draft aims to alleviate the financial burdens on small and medium-sized merchants by prohibiting platforms from shifting promotional costs onto them [7][8]. - It requires platforms to transparently disclose fee structures and prohibits misleading promotional language that could disrupt market order [7][8]. - The regulations ensure that promotional prices cannot result in zero or negative transaction values, protecting merchants' interests [7][8][10]. Group 5: Overall Industry Impact - The new standards are designed to create a balanced ecosystem among platforms, merchants, and riders, promoting sustainable development within the food delivery industry [9]. - By integrating various regulatory requirements, the draft aims to enhance consumer trust and improve the overall image of the industry [9]. - The implementation of these regulations will require collaboration among multiple government departments to ensure effective enforcement [9].

Core Points - The introduction of the "Basic Requirements for the Management of Takeaway Platform Services (Draft for Comments)" marks a new era of regulatory standards for the takeaway industry, focusing on food safety, merchant operational burdens, and rider rights protection [1][6] - The draft aims to address public concerns and inject new vitality into the takeaway industry through precise regulations [1][6] Food Safety - The draft establishes a comprehensive protection system for food safety, requiring merchants to submit valid business licenses and real-time location videos to ensure authenticity [2][6] - A new "order control prompt" mechanism is introduced to monitor merchant order capacity in real-time, preventing overload during peak times and ensuring food safety [2][6] Balancing Stakeholder Rights - The draft provides systematic solutions for rider rights, including fair compensation, work hours, and career development, ensuring riders receive appropriate recognition and rewards [3][6] - It addresses merchant rights by prohibiting platforms from transferring promotional costs to merchants and ensuring merchants retain promotional autonomy [3][6] Cost Transparency and Burden Reduction - The draft mandates clear disclosure of platform fees and prohibits the transfer of promotional costs to merchants or riders, aiming to alleviate financial burdens on small and medium-sized merchants [4][6] - It establishes a closed-loop management system for fee transparency, ensuring merchants are informed about applicable fees and costs [4][6] Regulatory Framework - The draft signifies a shift to refined governance in takeaway platform regulation, aligning with existing laws such as the E-commerce Law and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law [5][6] - It emphasizes the need for multi-departmental collaboration for effective implementation of the new regulations [6] Operational Order - The draft prohibits platforms from forcing merchants into promotions and aims to curb abusive subsidy practices, shifting competition focus from "traffic battles" to "service upgrades" [7][6] - It introduces innovative algorithm governance, requiring transparency in algorithm mechanisms and incorporating safety factors like weather and traffic into order distribution [7][6]