China intensifies efforts to protect consumer rights

BEIJING - China will improve consumer rights protection in 2018 through intensified quality supervision and better law enforcement.

The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) Thursday, the World Consumer Rights Day, launched an updated web-based national platform to better deal with consumer complaints and consultations regarding product quality. Consumers will receive timely feedbacks.

"China will continue to step up efforts in quality supervision and law enforcement to protect consumer rights this year," said Zhang Mao, head of the SAIC. "The complaints channels for consumers will be improved, and the supervision of market players will be tightened."

As domestic consumption is expected to become a stronger force driving economic development, the need for better product quality and protection of consumer rights is firmly in the spotlight.

Chinese authorities have recovered economic losses worth 3.57 billion yuan ($566 million) for deceived consumers last year, up 95.6 percent year on year, SAIC data showed.

Despite improved laws and growing consumer awareness of their rights, there is still a long way to go to consistently right the wrongs of dishonest market players.

More than 8.98 million complaints were lodged with China's consumer rights watchdogs last year, up 11.2 percent year on year.

Mobile phones, home appliances and recreational-related products were among products that received frequent consumer complaints.

Meanwhile, online shopping complaints rose significantly, up 184.4 percent year on year.