REGULATIONS ON QUALITY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document (法规全文)
REGULATIONS ON QUALITY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
(Promulgated by the State Council on April 5, 1986)
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1
The present Regulations are enacted in order to define the quality
responsibility for industrial products ("products" for short hereinafter),
safeguard the legitimate rights of the customer and consumer ("customer"
for short hereinafter), ensure the healthy development of commodity
economy in a planned way, and promote socialist modernization.
Article 2
"Quality of product" refers to the requirement for the applications,
safety and other properties of the products stipulated in related laws and
regulations, quality standards and contracts.
"Quality responsibility for products" refers to the responsibility that
shall be born due to the product's failure to satisfy the above-mentioned
requirements, which leads to loss on the part of the customer.
Article 3
The national standardization department is responsible for drawing up the
unified national standards. The national standards shall not be lower than
the international standards. National standards may be classified and
graded. The competent authorities responsible for the enterprise shall fix
a time limit for achieving the highest grade of the national standards.
The price department of the Central Government shall fix the prices
according to the grades of standards and implement the principle of "price
according to quality".
Article 4
Those enterprises engaging in the production, storing, transporting and
marketing of the product must, in accordance with the stipulations of the
present Regulations, undertake the quality responsibility for the
products.
The various departments, various localities, especially the competent
authorities for the manufacturer must exercise strict control over the
quality of the products, supervise and see that the manufacturer concerned
abides by the principle of "quality first", with a view to guaranteeing
the quality of product and undertaking quality responsibility. Those
failing to exercise effective control and supervision shall also undertake
liability arising therefrom.
Article 5
Quality-supervision agencies and the industry and commerce administration
departments must keep supervision over the quality of product and protect
the interest of the customer.
Article 6
The quality certificate, manuals, "high-quality" sign and identity sign of
a product must all be in conformity with the actual quality level of the
product. The explanation in the advertisement of the product must conform
to the actual quality of the product.
Article 7
All the manufacturers and the marketing firms must observe strictly the
following rules:
(1) unqualified product is forbidden from being dispatched from the
factory or marketed;
(2) unqualified raw materials and parts and components are not allowed to
be put into production or be used for assembly;
(3) it is forbidden to manufacture the products whose elimination the
State has explicitly ordered;
(4) product without the product-quality standard or without being tested
by the state quality-testing organ is not allowed to be manufactured and
marketed;
(5) it is forbidden to plot frauds, to pass of unqualified product as
qualified, to forge trademarks, or to imitate the famous brand products.
All the manufacturers and marketing firms are not allowed to sell their
products by way of coupling-sale.
Chapter II Quality Responsibility of the Product Manufacturer
Article 8
The manufacturer of the product must make sure that the quality of the
product conforms to the requirements laid down by relevant laws and
regulations, quality standards and stipulations of the contract.
The manufacturer of the product must set up a strict, well-coordinated and
effective quality-guarantee system, with a view to fixing the quality
responsibility for the product in an explicit manner.
The manufacturer must see to it that the quality-inspecting organ can
independently perform its functions of supervision and testing. It is
strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.
Article 9
The product shall not leave the factory unless it satisfies the following
requirements:
(1) achieving the quality requirements stipulated in Article 2 of the
present Regulations, and obtaining the quality certificate of the product
issued by testing organ and testing personnel;
(2) having the written explanation of, according to specific
characteristics, the product's name, size, model, ingredients, the
percentage of the ingredients, weight, direction for applications, lot No.
of production, date of production, name of manufacturer, address of the
manufacturer, and the serial number of the technical specifications of the
said product; explicitly specifying the date of expiry in case of a
product with time limit of efficacy. "High-quality" product must bear the
mark thereof;
(3) having the serial number, date of approval and the term of validity of
the production licence in case of a product manufactured under the
production licence system;
(4) machinery, equipment, devices, apparatus and durable consumer goods,
apart from satisfying the requirements in Items (1), (2) and (3) of this
Article, shall be accompanied with detailed instructions on the use of the
product. The content thereof includes: the product's technical-economic
parameters, service life, range of application, term of guarantee, methods
for installation, methods of maintenance and conditions for storing, term
of technical maintenance and repair, and other effective data concerning
the design parameters of the product. Electric products shall be attached
with the circuit diagram and schematic diagram;
(5) the package must conform to the related state regulations and
standards. As regards the products that are drastically poisonous,
dangerous, fragile, can not be laid on by heavy load, needing protection
against moisture, can not be turned upside down, there must be, on both
the external and interior packing, obvious indication marks and notices
for storing and transportation. On the package of the product, there must
be noted explicitly the actual weights (net and gross);
(6) on the product or the package thereof on which the trademark and
quality classification and grading system is applied, there shall be signs
for the said trademark, classification and grading;
(7) conforming to the requirements of the state laws and regulations
concerning safety, hygiene, protection of environment and measuring.
Article 10
The "substandard" goods that fail to achieve the requirements of the
related state standards, but still have some use value, cannot be marketed
at reduced price until having obtained the approval from the competent
authorities of the manufacturer; and on the package there must be clearly
marked with the words of "substandard goods". Products that fail to meet
the requirements of the state laws and regulations concerning safety,
hygiene and environmental protection and measuring must be destroyed or
undergo necessary technical treatment in good time. They are not allowed
to enter the market in the name of "substandard goods".
"Substandard goods" are not allowed to be used to manufacture or assemble
market-oriented products.
Article 11
Within the guarantee period of the product, in case of the quality found
out of line with the requirements stipulated in Article 2, the
manufacturer shall, according to the following different circumstances,
undertake the quality liability to the customer and marketing firm:
(1) the common part or component loses efficacy and therefore, after being
replaced, the performance can immediately be restored; in this case, the
manufacturer shall be responsible for replacing with qualified parts or
components and for restoring the normal performance;
(2) in case that the main part or competent of the product has lost the
efficacy and cannot be repaired within the set period, the manufacturer
shall be responsible for replacing with qualified products;
(3) in case the major function fails to satisfy the requirements of
Article 2 due to such causes as designing and manufacture, if the customer
requires to return the goods, the manufacturer shall refund;
(4) in case of economic loss caused by the quality faults, the
manufacturer shall also compensate for the actual loss;
(5) if maintenance and repair service or marketing firm responsible for
the aftersale technical service, so required and manufacturer must,
according to the contract of aftersale service, supply sufficient standby
products, spare parts and necessary technical support.
Chapter III Quality Responsibility of Enterprises for Storing or Transporting the Product
Article 12
The enterprises which undertake to store, transport, load or unload the
products must conduct the work of the storing, transportation, loading and
unloading in compliance with the relevant state stipulations and the
storing-transporting requirements indicated on the package of the product.
Article 13
In the course of the product entering the warehouse for storing or leaving
the warehouse, undertaking to transport the product or handing over the
product, the enterprise that stores or transports the product shall
observe the pertinent state stipulations and the storing-trans-system of
handing-over and checking before acceptance, so as to define the quality
responsibility. In case it has been testified that the damage of the
product is due to the cause of storage, transport or loading and
unloading, the enterprises which store, transport or load and unload the
product shall bear their respective liabilities and, according to related
government regulations, compensate for the economic loss.
Chapter IV Quality Responsibility of the Marketing Firm of the Product
Article 14
When laying in a stock of merchandise, the marketing firm shall, before
acceptance, test the product, so that the quality responsibility can be
clearly defined. The products sold by the marketing firm must conform to
the requirements stipulated in Articles 7 and 9 of the present
Regulations.
Article 15
In case the product sold by the marketing firm is found not up to the
conditions stipulated in Article 2 within the period of guarantee, the
marketing firm shall be responsible for guaranteed repairing, replacement,
taking back the product and refunding, and undertaking the responsibility
of compensating for the actual economic loss.
Chapter V Supervision and Control over the Quality of Product
Article 16
The various quality-supervising agencies shall, in accordance with the
relevant regulations of the state, organize independently, or together
with the industry and commerce administrative authorities, the responsible
departments of the various trades, and the responsible departments of the
various manufacturers, regular supervisional sample-checking on the
various links such as manufacture, storing, transportation, and marketing,
and regularly publicize the result of the testing of the samples.
Enterprises must honestly furnish the samples for checking and provide
facilities with respect to the testing means and working conditions.
Unless otherwise stated in state regulations, it is not allowed for the
quality-supervising agencies to collect fees from the enterprises for
sample-checking on the product, so as to guarantee the impartiality of the
supervising agencies. The expenses needed for the technical means and
measures and for the test by the quality-supervising agencies shall be
covered by the state or local financial allocations according to the
actual needs.
The economic commission at various levels are responsible for leadership,
organization and coordination of the supervision and control over product
quality.
Article 17
Responsible departments of the trades and responsible departments for the
enterprises at various levels are responsible for the control over the
quality of products in the respective trades within their authorization,
which covers: formulating or taking part in the formulation of the quality
standards for the products in their respective areas of responsibility and
the pertinent rules and regulations, being responsible for supervision and
control over the quality of products, urging the enterprises to ensure the
quality of product, perfecting the quality guaranteeing system, and
organizing the issuance of production licences.
Article 18
Exercise social supervision over the quality of product. The customer can
make inquiries about the quality of the product at the manufacturer, the
enterprises for storing and transporting, and the marketing firms; and the
social associations and organizations can help the customers participate
in the mediation, arbitration over quality disputes, and support the
customers to file lawsuits with the people's court.
Article 19
The customer can, according to the mutual agreement between the customer
and manufacturer, send his representative to the manufacturer to conduct
on-the-spot-supervision over the process of the production and the quality
of the product.
Chapter VI Settlement of Disputes over Quality Responsibility for the Product
Article 20
Any dispute arising from the quality of product shall, provided there is
an economic contract, observe the relevant stipulations in the Economic
Contract Law. In the absence of such contracts, either party to the
dispute can refer the dispute to a relevant quality-supervising agency for
mediation or settlement, or take the case to the people's court.
Article 21
In case of any dispute over the data of technical testing of the quality
of product, the party concerned or the mediating or arbitrating agencies
can entrust legally designated quality-testing unit for arbitral testing;
and the said quality testing unit shall be responsible for the data of the
arbitral testing.
Article 22
Unless otherwise stipulated by the government, the request for arbitration
or prosecution over quality responsibility shall be raised within one year
from the date the party concerned is aware of or should be aware of his
interest and rights being damaged. Where the party bearing the quality
responsibility for the product is willing to bear the responsibility, it
is not limited by the term of validity.
Chapter VII Penalties
Article 23
Where the product of an enterprise fails to reach the state-stipulated
standards, the competent authoritative department of the said enterprise
shall order the enterprise to rectify production within a fixed period.
Where the said rectification within the fixed period turns out to be of no
effect, the competent authoritative department of the said enterprise
shall order it to stop production or switch over to a new line of
products, or even suggest that the relevant authorities revoke the
production licence and the business licence. In the period of
rectification, the competent authoritative department responsible for the
said enterprise may, according to different circumstances, deduct the
bonus and wages of the executive members of the enterprise and of the
staff and workers.
Article 24
Where the manufacturer or marketing firm has committed one of the
following acts in violation of the stipulations of the present
Regulations, the authoritative department responsible for the enterprise
or firm shall mete out disciplinary punishment to the responsible persons
of the enterprise and to the persons bearing direct responsibility; and
the industry and commerce administrative organ shall confiscate all the
illegal income, and impose on it a fine equivalent to 15% to 20% of the
illegal income according to the degree of seriousness of the case; or even
the legal liabilities shall be fixed by the judicial organs through due
investigation.
1. manufacture or market adulterated product or imitated product, or pass
off "substandard" product as qualified;
2. manufacture or market products without indicating the name and address
of the manufacturer;
3. manufacture or market products without quality certificate;
4. manufacture or market products of which the State has issued explicit
order for their elimination;
5. manufacture or market the products on which the State adopts the system
of production licence, but fails to renew the said production licence
after its expiry;
6. manufacture or market products manufactured or assembled with
unqualified raw materials, parts or components;
7. manufacture or market products in violation of the requirements
stipulated by state laws and regulations concerning safety, hygiene,
environmental protection and measuring;
8. market products which have passed the expiry date.
The incomes collected from fines shall be handed to the state treasury.
Article 25
In the course of sample-check on quality supervision, in case it is found
that the manufacturer or marketing firm has committed the act(s) listed in
Article 24, the quality-supervising agency shall treat the case according
to the stipulation in Article 24. As regards the product not in conformity
to the provision of Item (7) of Article 9 of the present Regulations, the
product shall be destroyed on the spot by the quality-supervising agency
or be given the necessary technical treatment; and the manufacturer and
the marketing firm shall be ordered to recover within the given time all
the substandard products that have already been sold.
In case of violation of the stipulations in Article 8 of the present
Regulations, or retaliation against quality-testing personnel, or the
working personnel in quality-supervising and quality-testing agencies act
wrongly out of personal consideration, the responsible authoritative
department shall mete out disciplinary punishment. As regards those of
extraordinary seriousness, criminal liabilities shall be investigated and
fixed according to law.
Article 26
Where the poor quality of the product has resulted in the injury or death
of the customer, and in his loss of property, hence violating the criminal
code, the judicial organs shall investigate and fix the legal liability of
the party concerned.
Article 27
The above-mentioned penalty does not acquit the party bearing the quality
responsibility of its responsibility for the guaranteed repair,
replacement, recovering the product with the money already paid, and the
compensation for the actual economic loss to the customer(s).
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 28
The relevant responsible authorities may, in line with the provisions of
the present Regulations, work out the implementing details. The quality
responsibility regulations for import & export products, for goods with
military application as well as goods for special requirements, the
relevant authorities may, with reference to the principles of the present
Regulations, enact separate specific regulations.
Article 29
The present Regulations apply to all enterprises with ownership by the
whole people, enterprises with ownership by the collective, individual
industrial and commercial operators as well as the Chinese-foreign equity
joint ventures, contractual joint ventures, and foreign-capital
enterprises.
Article 30
The State Economic Commission is authorized to interpret the present
Regulations.
Article 31
The present Regulations shall go into force on July 1st, 1986.