Law revision gives new rights to online customers

Online customers are allowed a seven-day cooling-off period to return goods for refund after a revision to the consumer rights law was passed by China's top legislature on Friday.

The revision to the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress after three readings since April. It states that people can return goods seven days after they receive them through online, telephone and television shopping.

The revised law, which will take effect on March 15, came at a time when the country is trying to further boost domestic consumption. One of the major purposes of the revision is to give more protection to non-traditional shoppers, Jia Dongming, head of the civil law division under the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee, told a news conference on Friday.