New rule: E-platforms must ensure food safety

Regulation, taking effect on Oct 1, requires verification of sources, including restaurants

Online platforms that sell food will receive serious penalties or be closed if they fail to properly manage food producers or sellers and serious harm results, according to an online food safety regulation that will take effect on Oct 1.

The regulation, which was released on Thursday, focuses on violations involving the safety of food sold online - including restaurants that prepare food and have it delivered after receiving an order online - said Cui Enxue, deputy chief of inspection at the China Food and Drug Administration, at a news conference on Thursday.