Beijing, August 8 (Xinhua) — In order to further standardize the fee-charging practices of industry associations and chambers of commerce, and to guide them in carrying out activities, providing services, and charging fees in accordance with laws and regulations, the State Administration for Market Regulation, together with the Central Social Work Department and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, recently jointly issued the "Compliance Guidelines for Fee-Charging Practices of Industry Associations and Chambers of Commerce" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines").

The Guidelines adhere to preventing chronic problems in the industry while encouraging innovative development, clearly specifying requirements, handling methods, and the consequences of violations of laws and regulations. They are intended to guide industry associations and chambers of commerce toward standardized and healthy development, safeguard the legitimate rights of industry associations and chambers of commerce as well as other business entities, and better leverage the positive role of industry associations and chambers of commerce in the market economy.

The Guidelines consist of 7 chapters and 54 articles in total. Among them, the "General Provisions" section clarifies the drafting purpose, scope of application, types of fees, basic principles, and basic requirements; the "Membership Dues" section details requirements concerning the setting of membership dues standards, receipt management, prohibition of forced membership, and prohibition of multiple fee collection; the three sections "Administrative and Institutional Fees," "Operational and Service Fees," and "Other Fees" set out clear requirements for administrative and institutional fees, operational and service fees, and other types of fees, including content on receipt management, government-commissioned matters, mandatory training, and professional qualification examinations; the "Handling of Violations" section clearly identifies various types of illegal and non-compliant fee-charging practices and the corresponding handling methods; and the "Supplementary Provisions" section clarifies the entities to which the Guidelines apply and their guiding principles.

The three departments stated that the issuance of the Guidelines is an important step toward establishing a long-term mechanism for regulating the fees charged by industry associations and chambers of commerce, and is a ** step in the development of the regulatory system for fees related to enterprises. It will strongly promote the standardization of fee-charging practices of industry associations and chambers of commerce and help them play a more positive role in economic and social development.