The State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC) of the People’s Republic of China is the competent agency that takes charge in market supervision and regulation, and authorized to enforce relevant laws by administrative means under the direct leadership of the State Council of China. Our responsibilities include 4 aspects: enterprises registration, fair competition maintenance, consumers’ rights and interests protection, trademark exclusive rights protection. 

Specifically speaking, our functions are: Draft and promulgate guidelines, policies and laws as well as relevant rules and regulations concerning administration for industry and commerce; carry out and administer the registration of various kinds of enterprises; investigate and crack down illegal trade practices include monopolistic behaviors and unfair competitive behaviors; supervise trade practices in market places, supervise the quality of goods in circulation; investigate and deal with unlawful acts such as distribution of fake and/or substandard goods, so as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; carry out administrative supervision over contracts, investigate and deal with frauds and other illegal practices in contract performance; carry out supervision over advertising activities; take charge of trademark registration and administration, deal with cases of trademark infringement. 

The Laws we are enforcing mainly include: Countering Unfair Competition Law; Consumers’ Rights and Interests Protection Law; Trademark Law; Advertising Law; Contract Law; Company Law; Product Quality Law etc. 

Under SAIC, we have the following functional departments: Fair Trade Bureau; Consumer Protection Bureau; Department of Market Regulation; Department of Advertising Regulation; Trademark Office; Trademark Review and Adjudication Board; Enterprise Registration Bureau; Registration Bureau of Foreign-invested Enterprise; Department of Administration on Private Economy. And from central to local government, Administrations for Industry & Commerce (AICs) around China cover 5 levels, i.e. State-level AIC; Provincial-level AIC; Municipal-level AIC; County-level AIC and Grassroot-level AIC offices. The number of total AIC staff is around 600,000.  

The State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC)