New standards for customer service to take effect on May 1

China's newly revised national standards for after-sales services for consumer goods will come into effect on May 1, the State Administration for Market Regulation announced on Friday.

These standards, recently approved by the country's top market regulator, aim to meet consumers' evolving demands by shifting focus from basic service guarantees to more diverse and quality-oriented after-sales services.

The revisions come in response to the deep integration of the internet economy with intelligent technologies, which has led to innovative after-sales service models such as remote diagnostics and intelligent customer service.

According to the administration, the new standards outline four key principles for after-sales service: timely response, professionalism and reliability, convenience and accessibility, and transparency.

The standards also strengthen requirements for producers, sellers, authorized service providers and their personnel, ensuring they can meet the changing needs of consumers.

They also introduce new types of after-sales services, including delivery, extended warranties and recycling. The standards emphasize the protection of consumer data privacy, particularly in the context of network-based and digital after-sales methods.

The administration said that these new standards will provide comprehensive guidance for improving after-sales service requirements across various consumer goods sectors. They are expected to enhance the consumer experience, stimulate consumption and contribute positively to expanding domestic demand, it added.

Campaign launched to boost graduate employment

The Ministry of Education has announced the launch of a two-month campaign urging colleges and universities nationwide to capitalize on the crucial period following the start of the spring semester to enhance employment efforts.

This initiative, running from March to April, aims to support the employment of 2025 college graduates by focusing on expanding job opportunities and improving services for them.

In a notice published on Friday, the ministry stressed the importance of accelerating recruitment for policy-driven positions, emphasizing early and increased hiring.

Local education departments are encouraged to collaborate with relevant agencies to initiate recruitment processes for local civil servants, public institutions, State-owned enterprises and various professional qualification exams, with the goal of moderately expanding the hiring of college graduates.

The notice also underscores the significance of broadening employment opportunities at the grassroots level and increasing policy incentives.

Local education departments are urged to actively work with relevant agencies to develop and implement new policies that enhance employment prospects.

Local governments are also encouraged to boost recruitment efforts for community-based positions and increase the hiring of dedicated community staff from among college graduates.

National inspection to ensure quality of spring seeds

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has announced a nationwide inspection of the spring crop seed market to combat illegal moves including counterfeit, substandard and trademark-infringing seeds. This initiative aims to ensure the safety of seeds used in spring agricultural production and support increased yields of grain and oil crops.

According to a notice released on March 12, the inspection will focus on key crops such as corn, soybeans, rice, potatoes and other vegetables. Authorities plan to intensify random checks on seed markets and retail outlets, targeting issues like counterfeit and substandard products, trademark infringement and unlicensed production and sales.

There will be ongoing efforts to regulate online seed sales platforms. This includes strict reviews of sellers' production and business licenses, as well as their sales records, to maintain a clean and trustworthy online seed sales environment.

The ministry said it has dispatched seven task forces to key agricultural regions across the country to oversee and guide these inspections.

These teams will conduct on-site supervision and enforcement, rigorously investigating and penalizing illegal activities in the seed industry.

Their efforts aim to prevent substandard seeds from entering the market, thereby ensuring the safety of seeds for spring production, the ministry said.