Review №39 of Chinese Antitrust News from the Experts of the BRICS Competition Centre
- National Standard for Food Delivery Platforms
- 12th Lecture on Antitrust Compliance
- Risk Control System for NEVs
- 7th Meeting of the China–France Business Council
- China–ASEAN Dialogue on Digital Governance
- Results of the 3-Year Antitrust Campaign in Socially Significant Markets
- Draft Measures for Internet Data Security Assessment
National Standard for Food Delivery Platforms
On 2 December, China released a recommended national standard titled “Basic Requirements for the Management of Food Delivery Platform Services” (GB/T 46862—2025). The standard aims to address several issues common on food-tech platforms:
- Excessive subsidies. The standard differentiates between promotions offered by merchants and those offered by the platform itself — the latter must be funded directly by the platform.
- Forced participation in promotions. Platforms are prohibited from directly or indirectly coercing merchants to participate in promotional activities or penalising those who refuse (e.g., by lowering search rankings or restricting traffic).
- Disorderly commission fees. Commission fees are divided into three categories: technical service fees, delivery organisation fees, and advertising fees. Platforms must clearly inform merchants of the amounts charged and their purposes. Supporting small businesses and reducing technical service fees for small and micro-enterprises is encouraged.
- “Grey” restaurants and shops. Merchants must provide a qualification package — full information without which they may not operate online. This includes photos of dining areas and kitchens, as well as unedited videos showing the exact location of the business to prevent unverified establishments with fictitious addresses from operating. Platforms are responsible for carrying out random inspections.
- Non-transparent food preparation processes. The standard encourages implementing an “internet + open kitchen” model, with online livestreaming from restaurant kitchens so customers can monitor order preparation in real time.
- Courier vulnerability. Platforms must optimise delivery scheduling algorithms to consider road conditions, weather, safe e-bike speed, food preparation time, and more. Additional focus should be placed on fair compensation, work schedules (including guaranteed rest), social security, and career development for couriers.
Following publication of the Standard — although it is only recommendatory — major food delivery platforms voluntarily committed to complying with it. Meituan, which actively participated in drafting the document, issued the following statement:
“Meituan hereby solemnly declares its intention to voluntarily implement the national standard ‘Basic Requirements for the Management of Food Delivery Platform Services,’ systematically integrating its requirements into the platform’s operational and service management processes. The company will continue optimising platform rules, improving service management for merchants and couriers, enhancing the consumer experience, and protecting the rights and interests of couriers, consumers, and merchants.”.
12th Lecture on Antitrust Compliance
As part of the antitrust compliance lecture series organised by China’s market regulator SAMR, the 12th lecture — specifically tailored for central state-owned enterprises — was held. The lecture was co-organised with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), and delivered by Professor Shi Jiangzhong of the China University of Political Science and Law. He highlighted key aspects of antitrust legislation relevant to central enterprises, given their operational characteristics and organisational structure.
Central state-owned enterprises (central SOEs) are strategically important companies directly controlled by China’s central government. There are currently around 100 such companies, including Sinopec, China Telecom, FAW, China Minerals, Air China, and others.
Source: SAMR
Risk Control System for NEVs
SAMR is currently developing a new technical system for new-energy vehicles to ensure response mechanisms in cases of loss of control over vehicle temperature or speed. As part of the system, national standards for analysing vehicle defects have already been drafted, and an intelligent cloud-monitoring platform for electric vehicles launched. Once car manufacturers upload their data to the platform, the system will be able to more effectively predict and assess possible incidents, issue early maintenance warnings, and reduce the likelihood of repetitive accidents.
Source: SAMR
7th Meeting of the China–France Business Council
President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly attended the closing ceremony of the 7th Meeting of the China–France Business Council in Beijing.
Xi Jinping noted that 2025 marks the beginning of a new 60-year cycle in China–France relations. In the first ten months of the year, bilateral trade reached USD 69 billion, and cumulative bilateral investment exceeded USD 27 billion. China regards France as an important and indispensable economic and trade partner, welcomes France’s active participation in China’s modernisation process, and supports capable and interested Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in France. According to Xi, the essence of China–EU economic and trade ties lies in complementary advantages and mutual benefit, enabling a dynamic development balance.
Source: WeChat
China–ASEAN Dialogue on Digital Governance
The second China–ASEAN Dialogue on Digital Governance was held on 4 December in Beihai, southern China. Discussions focused on Cybersecurity, AI Governance, and Cross-border Data Flows. During the event, China presented an Initiative on Deepening China–ASEAN Cooperation in Digital Governance, including:
- Cybersecurity: establishing mechanisms for joint incident response, enhancing threat-information sharing, jointly building cybersecurity capacity;
- AI governance: strengthening academic and scientific exchanges in AI, jointly participating in developing global AI governance rules;
- Regulation of cross-border data flows: formulating joint recommendations modelled on China’s Personal Data Export Rules and ASEAN’s Standard Contractual Clauses, jointly exploring the creation of special institutional mechanisms for cross-border data-flow cooperation.
Source: CAC 1
Full text of the Initiative (in Chinese): CAC 2
Results of the 3-Year Antitrust Campaign in Socially Significant Markets
SAMR summarised results of the antitrust campaign launched in 2023 focusing on socially significant markets: a total of 60 cases were reviewed, with fines and confiscations amounting to USD 410 million. As part of the campaign, 21 antitrust compliance lectures were held, attended by more than 80,000 participants.
Source: WeChat
Draft Measures for Internet Data Security Assessment
The Cyberspace Administration of China released for public consultation a draft of the Measures for Internet Data Security Risk Assessment. The document specifies:
– frequency of assessments (e.g., annually for important data processors, every three years for general data),
– assessment standards (GB/T 45577 and others),
– a recommended template for the security assessment report, etc.
Data processors may conduct assessments independently or entrust them to licensed agencies. Agencies must make fair and objective judgements, ensure authenticity, accuracy, and completeness of the reports, and may not conduct assessments for the same operator more than three consecutive times.
These measures shift the focus of risk prevention and control to earlier stages, promoting a transition from passive response to proactive prevention and from decentralised to systemic governance.
Source: CAC
