Since May, these new regulations have been implemented.
Since May, a number of new regulations have been put into effect, involving state secrecy, commutation and parole, organ donation, water conservation, and the new entry and exit policies.
For example, the Law on Guarding State Secrets has revised and improved the system of auditing state secrets, and clarified the legal responsibility for serious consequences caused by failure to perform the responsibility of auditing decryption. The judicial interpretation of commutation and parole issued by the Supreme Law further explicitly requires that criminals who have the ability to perform civil compensation can only commute their sentences and be released on parole after their performance.
It is noteworthy that the regulations on human organ donation and transplantation have been officially implemented, and the organ acquisition and distribution system has been further improved, and the whole process management has been implemented. Measures for the management of social organization names have also been implemented, in which it is clarified that social organizations are generally not allowed to be named after party and state leaders, revolutionaries and political activists of the older generation.
Revision of the Law on Guarding State Secrets: Perfecting the Audit System and Defining the Legal Responsibility
The newly revised Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Guarding State Secrets came into force on May 1st. This revision has absorbed some mature practices of confidentiality and decryption in work practice, including improving the system of the person in charge of confidentiality and the authorization mechanism of confidentiality, and making principles for the marking of confidentiality points to further promote the accuracy and scientificity of confidentiality; We will improve the state secret audit system, change the regular audit to annual audit, clarify the legal responsibility for serious consequences caused by failure to perform the decryption audit responsibility, further compact the main responsibility of the secret-fixing organs and units, and facilitate the rational use of information resources.
Organ donation and transplantation system: regularly announce the donation and distribution.
The Regulations on Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs came into force on May 1st. Among them, the system of organ acquisition and distribution should be improved, the whole process management should be implemented, and the conditions that medical institutions should have for obtaining remains and organs and the requirements that should be followed for carrying out services for obtaining remains and organs should be stipulated; Refine the ethical review requirements before obtaining organs and stipulate the witness procedures for obtaining remains and organs; It is stipulated that the distribution of remains and organs should meet the medical needs, follow the principles of fairness, justice and openness, and be uniformly distributed through the distribution system established by the health department of the State Council, requiring that the donation and distribution of remains and organs be announced regularly and accept social supervision; Establish a green channel working mechanism to efficiently and smoothly transport remains and organs. In addition, the relevant provisions on legal liability have been improved, penalties have been intensified, and illegal acts in the field of organ donation and transplantation have been severely cracked down.
Judicial interpretation of the Supreme Law: If a criminal has the ability to compensate, his sentence will be commuted and released on parole only after his performance.
Since May 1, 2024, the implementation of the Provisions on Examining the Execution of Property Sentences in Cases of Commutation and Parole issued by the Supreme People’s Court will further correctly handle the relationship between commutation, parole and the execution of property sentences.
The "Regulations" clarify that the implementation of property judgments is one of the important factors to judge whether criminals really show repentance when handling commutation and parole cases. Require criminals who have the ability to perform their duties to have their sentences reduced or released on parole; If a person refuses to perform because he has the ability to perform, he will not be deemed to have repented, and his sentence will not be reduced or released on parole. The "Regulations" also clarify that if a criminal is found to have made a false declaration or intentionally concealed property after being sentenced to commutation or parole, if the circumstances are serious, his commutation or parole shall be revoked, and the relevant supporting system has been improved.
The first water-saving regulation: the total amount of annual water consumption is controlled by administrative region.
The Regulations on Water Conservation came into force on May 1st. Among them, strengthen water management and implement water quota management for major crops, key industrial products and service industries; According to the administrative region, the total amount of annual water consumption is controlled; Implement planned water management for units that use water to a certain scale; Areas with serious shortage of water resources and areas with over-exploitation of groundwater should strictly control the construction of high water consumption industrial projects. In addition, improve water-saving measures, promote urban water saving and loss reduction, and comprehensively promote the construction of water-saving cities; Promote unconventional water use, etc.
Measures for the administration of the names of social organizations: they shall not be named after the names of party and state leaders.
The Measures for the Administration of Names of Social Organizations shall come into force as of May 1st. The "Measures" make unified provisions on the management of social organization names, in which it is clear that the line (business) field in the name of social organizations should be marked according to the national economic industry classification standards, discipline classification standards and the main business of social organizations. The composition of members in the names of social organizations shall be marked according to the national occupational classification standards and the common characteristics of members. If there are no relevant provisions, social organizations can refer to the relevant policies of the state. The misleading words such as "first", "highest" and "national level" shall not be used in the field of business, except those with other meaning. Article 15 of the Measures also clarifies that social organizations are generally not allowed to be named after party and state leaders, revolutionaries of the older generation and political activists.
New Deal of Entry-Exit Administration: Pilot Replacement of Certificates "All-process Network Office"
The State Administration of Immigration decided to formally implement some policies and measures for the entry and exit management of convenience and benefit enterprises from May 6th. First, in 20 cities such as Beijing, the "full-process network office" for issuing and reissuing entry and exit documents was piloted; Second, the business endorsement to Hong Kong and Macao should be "smart and quick" and "nationwide"; The third is to expand the endorsement policy for talents going to Hong Kong and Macao from mainland cities in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to Beijing and Shanghai; Fourth, the duration of stay in Hong Kong and Macao for business endorsers to Hong Kong and Macao has been extended from 7 days to 14 days; The fifth is to issue multiple "other" endorsements to Macao for one year; Sixth, participants in the "Qinao Tour Group" can travel back and forth to Qinao many times.
New regulations for non-bank payment institutions: the minimum paid-in registered capital is 100 million yuan.
The Regulations on the Supervision and Administration of Non-bank Payment Institutions shall come into force as of May 1st. Among them, the "Regulations" will change the current business license into an institutional license, and implement access management according to the principle of "first license and then license". Clarify the requirements for the registered capital, major shareholders, actual controllers, directors, supervisors, senior managers, business premises, security measures, corporate governance structure, etc. of the payment institution when it is established, appropriately raise the threshold for the entry of registered capital, and clarify that the minimum amount is 100 million yuan, and it should be paid-in monetary capital.
Free trade agreement: tariff reduction for Ecuador
The Free Trade Agreement between the Government of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of the Republic of Ecuador came into effect on May 1st. In order to fulfill the relevant commitments of tariff concession in the Agreement, the State Council Customs Tariff Commission issued an announcement, and from May 1, 2024, some imported goods originating in Ecuador will be subject to the agreed tariff rate according to the Agreement.
Optimizing the management of cosmetic safety assessment: formulating relevant technical guidelines
"Several Measures to Optimize the Management of Cosmetic Safety Assessment" came into effect on May 1st. Among them, the "Measures" clearly stipulate the formulation and release of relevant technical guidelines such as physical and chemical stability test, preservative challenge test and packaging material compatibility test and evaluation, so as to provide reference for cosmetics enterprises to carry out relevant tests or evaluations. Cosmetic enterprises can carry out relevant research on product stability, anti-corrosion system and packaging compatibility according to national standards, technical specifications, industry standards, international standards, technical guidelines or self-built methods of enterprises, and submit relevant tests or evaluation conclusions in safety assessment reports.
Maintaining fair competition in the field of bidding: establishing a clue collection mechanism in market barriers
The Rules for the Examination of Fair Competition in the Field of Bidding and Bidding shall come into force on May 1st. In view of all kinds of unreasonable restrictions that are common in bidding practice, the Rules stipulate specific requirements for review, focusing on breaking down trading barriers in pre-qualification, bid evaluation methods, bid evaluation standards, calibration standards, credit evaluation and deposit collection.
The Rules clarify the main responsibility of policy-making organs to carry out fair competition review, and stipulate the working mechanism, workflow, review conclusions, etc., emphasizing that policy measures should complete fair competition review before being submitted for deliberation or approval. The Rules also require relevant departments to regularly carry out policy measures assessment and clean-up, establish a market barriers clue collection mechanism for tendering and bidding, dynamically clean up and abolish all kinds of policies and measures that violate fair competition, and effectively promote the fair competition review system to be effective.
Guidelines for sustainable development reports of listed companies: encouraging voluntary disclosure of information
The Guidelines for Sustainable Development Reports of Listed Companies issued by Shanghai, Shenzhen and North Stock Exchanges respectively came into effect on May 1st. According to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, sample companies of SSE 180 and Kechuang 50 Index and companies listed at home and abroad should disclose the 2025 Sustainable Development Report for the first time at the latest in 2026, and encourage other listed companies to disclose it voluntarily.
The Shenzhen Stock Exchange has also clearly set transitional arrangements. During the reporting period, companies that continue to be included in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange 100 and the Growth Enterprise Market Index, as well as companies listed at home and abroad at the same time, can disclose the 2025 Sustainable Development Report for the first time before April 30, 2026 at the latest, encouraging other listed companies to disclose voluntarily. The Beijing Stock Exchange said that the rules do not require mandatory disclosure of sustainable development reports, and encourage companies to "do what they can" and gradually promote listed companies to strengthen disclosure.
New notice of inter-bank bond market: foreign investors can invest through counter channels
The Notice on Matters Related to Counter Business in the Inter-bank Bond Market came into effect on May 1st. The "Notice" further clarifies three aspects: First, it clarifies the types of counter business and trading methods. All kinds of bonds that have been traded in the inter-bank bond market can be traded through the counter on the premise of complying with the investor’s suitability requirements. The second is to optimize the management rules for investors to open accounts. An investor who has opened an account in the inter-bank bond market may open a bond account in an over-the-counter business establishment. Third, overseas investors can invest through counter channels. Foreign investors who are allowed to enter the inter-bank bond market may open bond accounts through counter business start-up institutions and domestic custodian banks.
Shanghai: relax the application conditions for family subsidies for triplets or more
The revised Notice on Giving Living Allowances to Families with More than Triplets will be implemented from May 1st and will be valid until April 30th, 2029. In order to better protect the basic life of children in triplet families, the Notice changes the application conditions from "children under 16 years of age or over 16 years of age but receiving full-time undergraduate education at school" to "children under 18 years of age (except those whose main source of income is their own labor) or over 18 years of age but receiving full-time undergraduate education at school".
Tianjin: New food safety regulations focus on school food safety.
The Regulations of Tianjin Municipality on Food Safety shall come into force on May 1st. The "Regulations" focus on the safety of edible agricultural products, online food management, school food safety, and the supervision of small food production and processing workshops, small restaurants and food vendors, and improve relevant system norms.
Among them, it is clear that the school has established and implemented systems such as food processing process control, centralized dining and accompanying meals, and timely disclosed information such as food purchase sources, food suppliers and complaint channels by means of public information platforms. Take off-campus catering mode for meals, should be in accordance with the provisions of the choice of food business license, can bear the responsibility of food safety, good social reputation of off-campus catering enterprises. Catering enterprises shall implement the "internet plus Ming Kitchen Bright Stove" project and accept supervision.
Zhejiang: Reasonably reduce the service fee of real estate brokerage.
The "Implementation Opinions on Further Standardizing the Management of Real Estate Brokers" jointly issued by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Zhejiang Provincial Market Supervision Administration has been implemented since May 1. The "Opinions" clarify that the fees for real estate brokerage services are determined by the parties to the transaction through consultation based on the service content and service quality, combined with factors such as market supply and demand. Real estate brokerage institutions should reasonably reduce the cost of housing sales and leasing brokerage services. Encourage the implementation of grading pricing according to the principle of higher transaction price and lower service rate. Guide both parties to the transaction to share the brokerage service fee.
Guangzhou: China’s first local regulation specifically for the reconstruction of villages in cities.
The Regulations on the Reconstruction of Villages in Guangzhou came into effect on May 1st. The "Regulations" regulate the objectives, methods, compensation and resettlement schemes, land acquisition, dispute resolution, etc. This is also the first local law and regulation specifically aimed at the transformation of villages in cities.
The "Regulations" improve the protection mechanism of villagers’ legitimate rights and interests from three aspects: First, it is clear that the willingness to reform is required to consult and pass the proportion. The "Regulations" stipulate that the demolition and renovation of newly-built villages in cities should be approved by more than two-thirds of the members of rural collective economic organizations and more than two-thirds of villagers over the age of 18 in the village where the renovation project is located. Second, it is clear that if more than half of the members of rural collective economic organizations whose land has been expropriated have objections to the compensation and resettlement plan for land acquisition, they should organize a hearing. Third, it is clear that the landless villagers will be included in the social security system such as old-age care.
Guiyang: Expand the scope of drawing housing provident fund to pay down payment.
The Notice of Guiyang Housing Provident Fund Management Center on Optimizing Phased Policies of Housing Provident Fund will be implemented from May 6, 2024 to December 31, 2024. The "Notice" clarifies that the scope of down payment for housing provident fund withdrawal will be expanded, from "the depositor’s family has no record of housing provident fund loans nationwide and the commercial individual housing loan records are not more than once, and purchases new commercial housing" to "the depositor’s family has no record of housing provident fund loans nationwide or only one record of housing provident fund loans and the loans have been settled, and purchases new commercial housing and second-hand houses in Gui ‘an, Guiyang".
Hainan: implementation of regulations on the registration and management of market entities in free trade ports
The Regulations on the Administration of Registration of Market Subjects in Hainan Free Trade Port shall come into force on May 1st. Among them, the "Regulations" clearly stipulate that the registration authority shall confirm and publicize the qualifications and registration items of market entities according to the statutory authority and procedures, promote the registration of market entities from the approval system to the confirmation system, and set up a series of supporting measures such as facilitating the registration of market entities and strengthening post-event supervision.
Zhangzhou: Adjust the access conditions for flexible employees to apply for provident fund account opening.
The Measures for the Administration of the Deposit and Use of Housing Provident Fund by Flexible Employment Personnel in Zhangzhou City shall come into force as of May 1st. Among them, the "Measures" adjust the access conditions for flexible employees in Zhangzhou to apply for housing provident fund account opening. It was originally stipulated that the basic old-age insurance premium for flexible employees should be paid continuously for 24 months in Zhangzhou City before the month of voluntary housing provident fund deposit. Before the month of voluntary housing provident fund deposit, an account was opened in the special account for social insurance flexible employees in Zhangzhou City and the basic old-age insurance premium was paid normally.
Ya’ an: A one-time subsidy of 20,000 yuan for the birth of "test-tube baby"
The "Ten Measures for Optimizing the Maternity Protection Policy in Ya ‘an to Promote the Long-term Balanced Development of the Population" came into effect on May 23, with a validity period of 5 years. Among them, the "Measures" mentioned that families who meet the birth policy and both husband and wife are Ya ‘an household registration, such as those who are diagnosed and assisted in pregnancy due to difficulties in pregnancy, will be subsidized according to the principle of "multiple treatments and one-time subsidy". Need to use "test-tube baby" to assist fertility, and give a one-time subsidy of 20,000 yuan after childbirth; If "artificial insemination" is used to assist fertility, a one-time subsidy of 1,500 yuan will be given after childbirth.