China to improve quality certification

The State Council, China's cabinet, said Wednesday that it will strengthen quality certification to help create a fair market environment and raise the quality of Chinese products.

The quality management system will suit different industries, focusing on the aviation, railway, automobile and information sectors, according to a statement following an executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

Coverage of quality certification will expand to include all kinds of companies, especially service providers and small and micro-sized enterprises.

There will be compulsory certification for products involving safety, heath and environmental protection. Incentives will be provided to encourage companies to voluntarily obtain certification, the statement said.

Better management is needed to ensure strict certification standards and international cooperation will be carried out to seek mutual recognition.

Pilot separation of operation permits from business licenses in Shanghai's Pudong New Area will expand to10 more free trade zones.

Those free trade zones will remove 116 administrative approvals by Dec. 21, 2018. National demonstration zones for independent innovation and high-tech industrial development zones may also use the measures, if approved by local governments.

The meeting canceled 52 administrative approvals by central government departments and 22 approvals were delegated to governments at lower levels.