SZ releases local standards for business integrity evaluation

Shenzhen Municipal Administration for Market Regulation recently made public a local evaluation system for business integrity it compiled to promote the construction of a regulated and healthy market environment with increasing market competition. 

Effective Sept. 1, the evaluation standards emphasize the principle of integrity in business operations.

First of its kind in the country, the new system outlines specific criteria and scoring for evaluation across 10 key areas: merchant management, personnel management, safety management, quality management, price management, service management, consumer rights protection, handling of complaints and disputes, recognition and awards, and credit commitments.

The integrity evaluation system will grade merchants into four levels — A, B, C, and D — based on their scores and establishes clear evaluation methods and mechanisms for addressing disputes. 

According to the market authority, the development of the evaluation standards took into account the characteristics and actual conditions of the local market conditions. A pilot evaluation of business integrity was conducted across seven select markets in Futian, Luohu, Bao’an, and Longgang districts. These markets were guided to develop their evaluation programs based on the city’s new standards while considering their unique traits.

After six months of pilot evaluations, the results met expectations, helping the market’s competitiveness and attractiveness.