Regulation on Strengthening Food Safety Responsibilities for Online Food Service Operators to Address "Ghost Takeout" Issues Released

Today, at a press conference held by the State Administration for Market Regulation, it was announced that the “Supervision and Management Regulations for Online Catering Service Operators to Implement Food Safety Responsibilities” will officially take effect on June 1.

The regulations specify management responsibilities across the entire chain for takeout platforms, including merchant qualification review, information disclosure, process control, and problem resolution. They require takeout platforms to be responsible upon registration, regulated upon launch, and accountable during operation, ensuring food safety responsibilities are embedded in every aspect, process, and decision of platform operation. Takeout platforms are warned that they cannot just collect commissions without responsibility; they cannot focus solely on traffic while neglecting quality. Takeout platforms must genuinely assume the primary responsibility as “gatekeepers” of food safety.

“Ghost takeout” has long been a pain point in online food safety. The regulations also address this issue with targeted measures. The regulations require takeout platforms to conduct real-name registration for merchants and verify their food business licenses and other qualifications through on-site inspections and other methods, ensuring that the information on the licenses matches actual conditions, rather than just formal review.

At the same time, the regulations require takeout platforms to verify and compare merchant qualification information, such as food business licenses, with data held by provincial market regulation departments. If discrepancies are found, platform services must not be provided. Breaking down data barriers between platforms and regulatory authorities, eliminating “information silos,” and achieving “single-source verification, two-way calibration, and real-time feedback” to effectively prevent fake or invalid qualifications from entering the network.

Additionally, the regulations stipulate that takeout platforms must update and verify the actual business address and qualification information of merchants at least every six months to ensure consistency with actual conditions. This is not merely a periodic check-in but a transformation of static access into continuous “lifecycle management.” Platforms are required to proactively re-verify information, qualifications, and conduct on-site inspections within verification windows to ensure ongoing authenticity and validity of merchant operations.

(Source: CCTV News Client)