In mid-March 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released a draft revision of the Administrative Measures for the Supervision of Inspection and Testing Institutions (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”) for public consultation.

This revision represents a comprehensive upgrade from the previous version issued in April 2021. It aims to address key issues such as the low cost of falsification in inspection and testing activities and the lack of clear accountability for practitioners. The updated Measures significantly strengthen penalties for serious violations, clarify the responsibilities of key personnel—such as legal representatives, technical directors, and authorized signatories—and standardize professional conduct in the sector. Ultimately, it seeks to reinforce the primary responsibility of inspection and testing institutions and safeguard order in the inspection and testing market.

The most notable change in this update is the construction of an upgraded regulatory system. By refining the criteria for identifying violations—particularly clarifying grey areas such as data tampering and process simplification—the revision aims to close current regulatory loopholes.

Another highlight is the establishment of a tiered penalty mechanism. This system differentiates penalties based on the nature, severity, and consequences of violations, ranging from warnings and fines to the revocation of qualifications. Notably, the fine for severe violations such as data falsification can now be up to ten times the illegal gains.

In addition, the revised Measures incorporate the “Internet Plus” regulatory approach by creating a unified national regulatory information platform for inspection and testing institutions. This platform will enable real-time data sharing and intelligent analysis. The new regulatory framework will also be integrated with a credit rating system to focus oversight on high-risk institutions while reducing inspection frequency for trustworthy ones, thereby improving regulatory precision.

The revision is expected to foster a fairer market environment by curbing unfair competition from substandard institutions and reducing the circulation of non-compliant products. It is poised to contribute positively to the healthy development of the inspection and testing industry and the protection of consumer interests.

Reference: https://www.samr.gov.cn/xw/zj/art/2025/art_3addbdb3bf8f4d0aa4276f24ede4dda9.html