Law must defend consumer rights

The Consumer's Rights and Interests Protection Law will be amended for the first time in nearly 20 years, says an article in China Business News (excerpts below).

When the law was drafted in the early 1990s, medical care, education and housing were considered part of social welfare in China. All now are products or services for average consumers. What's more, electronic commerce and financial products are entirely new fields for legislation. The legislators must update the CRIPL according to the development of the marketplace.

We expect the new law can tilt more clearly toward consumers.

The law should be practical and allow individual consumers to defend their legal rights and interests. Judicial organs should make it easier for consumers to collect evidence.

The new law must pay special attention to defend consumer rights and interests in financial services and e-commerce. If improved legislation can be enforced the environment for consumption will greatly boosted.