The Regulations on the Administration of the Printing Industry are enacted to strengthen the management of the printing industry, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of printing industry operators and public interests, and promote the development of socialist spiritual and material civilization. These regulations apply to the printing activities of publications, packaging and decoration prints, and other printed materials. Adopted at the 43rd executive meeting of the State Council on July 26,2001, they came into effect on August 2, 2001. The regulations consist of seven chapters and forty-eight articles.

The Decision of the State Council on Amending Certain Administrative Regulations (State Council Decree No.666) was adopted at the 119th Executive Meeting of the State Council on January 13,2016, promulgated on February 6, 2016, and took effect immediately [1]. On March 1, 2017, the Decision of the State Council on Amending and Abolishing Certain Administrative Regulations (State Council Decree No.676) underwent its second revision [2]. On November 29,2020, the Decision of the State Council on Amending and Abolishing Certain Administrative Regulations (State Council Decree No.732) underwent its third revision [3].

Chinese name

regulations on printing industry

Decree of the State Council

No.315

Current version

29 November 2020 revision

catalogue

Content

. ▪ Chapter 1 General Provisions

. ▪ Chapter 2 Establishment of Printing Enterprises

. ▪ Chapter 3: Printing of Publications

. ▪ Chapter 4 Printing of Packaging and Decoration Materials

. ▪ Chapter 5: Printing of Other Printed Materials

. ▪ Chapter 6: Penalties

. ▪ Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions

content

Chapter 1 General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated for the purpose of strengthening the administration of the printing industry, safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of printing industry operators and the public interest, and promoting the construction of socialist spiritual and material civilization.

Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the printing business activities of publications, packaging and decoration prints, and other printed materials.

The term 'publications' as used in these Regulations includes newspapers, periodicals, books, maps, New Year paintings, pictures, wall calendars, albums, audiovisual products, and the covers of electronic publications.

The term 'packaging and decoration prints' as used in these Regulations includes trademark labels, advertising materials, and printed materials such as paper, metal, and plastic used for product packaging and decoration.

Other printed materials referred to in these Regulations include documents, materials, charts, tickets, certificates, business cards, etc.

The term 'printing business activities' as used in these Regulations includes commercial activities such as typesetting, plate making, printing, binding, photocopying, photocopiering, and printing.

Article 3. Printing business operators shall comply with relevant laws, regulations and rules, and prioritize social benefits.

The printing of publications, packaging and decoration prints, and other printed materials containing reactionary, obscene, superstitious content, or other materials expressly prohibited by the state from being printed is forbidden.

Article 4 The administrative department of publishing under the State Council shall be in charge of the supervision and administration of the printing industry nationwide. The administrative departments of publishing under the people's governments at or above the county level (hereinafter referred to as the publishing administrative departments) shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of the printing industry within their respective administrative regions.

Public security departments, industrial and commercial administrative departments, and other relevant departments of people's governments at or above the county level shall, within their respective responsibilities, be responsible for the supervision and administration of the printing industry.

Article 5. Operators in the printing industry shall establish and improve systems for proofreading verification, registration of printing orders, storage of printed materials, delivery of printed materials, and disposal of defective products from printing activities. Specific measures shall be formulated by the publishing administrative department under the State Council.

The operator of printing business should report to the public security department or the publishing administrative department in time if he finds illegal or criminal behavior in printing business.

Article 6: Press industry associations shall exercise self-regulation in accordance with their bylaws under the guidance of publishing administrative departments.

Article 7 Printing enterprises shall submit annual reports to the publishing administrative department on a regular basis. The publishing administrative department shall promptly disclose relevant contents of the annual reports to the public in accordance with the law.

Chapter 2 Establishment of Printing Enterprises

Article 8 The state implements a licensing system for printing operations. No entity or individual shall engage in printing business activities without obtaining a printing operation license in accordance with these regulations.

Article 9 Enterprises engaged in printing business activities shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The enterprise shall have a name and articles of association;

(2) Having a clearly defined scope of business;

(3) Possess production and operation premises, necessary funds, equipment and other operational conditions required for the scope of business;

(4) Possess organizational structures and personnel adequate to the scope of operations;

(5) Other conditions stipulated by relevant laws and administrative regulations.

The approval of applications for printing business activities shall, in addition to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, comply with the state's planning regarding the total number, structure, and layout of printing enterprises.

Article 10. Enterprises applying for publication printing business operations shall submit their business license to the publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government where they are located. Upon approval, a printing operation license shall be issued.

Enterprises applying to engage in the printing of packaging, decoration, and other printed materials shall submit their business license to the publishing administrative department of the municipal people's government where they are located. Upon approval, a printing business license will be issued.

Individuals are prohibited from engaging in the printing of publications, packaging, or decorative materials. For individuals involved in other printing activities, approval procedures shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of this article.

Article 11 The publishing administrative department shall make a decision to approve or reject the application within 60 days from the date of receiving the application submitted pursuant to Article 10 of these Regulations. If the application is approved, a printing business license shall be issued; if the application is rejected, the applicant shall be notified with the reasons stated.

The printing business license shall specify the type of printing business activities conducted by the printing enterprise.

The printing business license shall not be sold, leased, lent or transferred in any other form.

Article 12. A printing business operator applying for concurrent operations or changes in publishing, packaging and decoration printing, or other printing activities, or merging with other printing business operators, or establishing a new printing business operator through merger or division, shall complete the procedures in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of these Regulations.

A printing business operator shall file a record with the publishing administrative department that originally approved its establishment when changing its name, legal representative or person in charge, domicile or business premises, or when terminating its printing business activities.

Article 13 The publishing administrative department shall, in accordance with the overall requirements for the construction of the national social credit information platform, establish interconnection and sharing of printing enterprise information with the public security department, the industrial and commercial administrative department, or other relevant departments.

Article 14 The state allows foreign investors to jointly invest with China investors in establishing enterprises engaged in the printing and distribution of publications, and allows the establishment of foreign-invested enterprises engaged in the printing and distribution of packaging, decoration, and other printed materials.

Article 15. Any unit establishing an internal printing factory (or printing office) shall complete registration procedures with the local publishing administrative department of the people's government at or above the county level where it is located. If the printing factory (or printing office) within the unit produces materials involving state secrets, it shall also complete registration procedures with the confidentiality department.

Printing plants (or facilities) established within an organization are prohibited from engaging in printing business activities. Any such activities must be conducted in compliance with the procedures stipulated in this chapter.

Chapter 3 Printing of Publications

Article 16 The State encourages enterprises engaged in publishing and printing business to promptly produce publications that embody new and outstanding cultural achievements both domestically and internationally, and to prioritize the printing of traditional cultural masterpieces and valuable academic works.

Article 17 Enterprises engaged in publication printing business activities shall not print publications expressly prohibited by the state or those published by non-publishing entities.

Article 18. For printed publications, the printing commissioning entity and printing enterprise shall execute a printing contract in accordance with relevant national regulations.

Article 19 When printing enterprises undertake book or periodical printing commissions from publishing entities, they must authenticate and retain the official printing commission letter bearing the publisher's seal, and file it with the local publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal government where the publisher is located prior to printing. For commissions from publishers outside the enterprise's home province, autonomous region, or municipality, the printing commission letter must also be pre-filed with the local publishing administrative department of the enterprise's home province, autonomous region, or municipality. The format of the printing commission letter shall be standardized by the State Council's publishing administrative department, and the printing shall be uniformly conducted by the publishing administrative departments of provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal governments.

When printing enterprises accept commissions from publishing units to print newspapers, they must verify the newspaper publishing license. When accepting commissions from publishing units to print supplements or special issues of newspapers or periodicals, they must also verify the approval documents issued by the competent publishing administrative department for the publication of such supplements or special issues.

Article 20. When printing enterprises undertake the printing of internal reference publications, they must verify the printing license issued by the publishing administrative department of the local people's government at or above the county level.

The printing enterprise accepting the commission to print the internal material publication of the religious content must verify the approval document of the religious affairs administrative department of the provincial, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government and the printing license issued by the publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government.

The publishing administrative department shall make a decision on whether to issue the printing permit within 30 days from the date of receiving the application for printing internal material publications or internal material publications containing religious content, and notify the applicant; failure to make a decision within the time limit shall be deemed as consent to printing.

Article 21. When a printing enterprise undertakes the printing of overseas publications on commission, it must present valid legal documents certifying the copyright and obtain approval from the publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government. All printed overseas publications must be transported out of the country and are prohibited from being distributed or circulated within the territory.

Article 22. A printing unit entrusted with printing must, in accordance with relevant state regulations, publish the following information on the entrusted publications: the name and address of the publishing unit, the book number, publication number or edition number, the publication date or issue number, the true name and address of the enterprise accepting the printing commission, and other relevant details.

Printing enterprises shall retain a copy of the commissioned publication sample for inspection within two years from the date of printing completion.

Article 23. Printing enterprises shall not engage in unauthorized reproduction of publications, nor shall they sell, make unauthorized additional printings, or accept third-party commissions for additional printings of commissioned publications. They shall not sell, lease, lend, or otherwise transfer the paper types or printing negatives of commissioned publications to other entities or individuals.

Article 24. Printing enterprises shall not subscribe to or sell publications, nor shall they print or sell publications under the false name or by misappropriating another's identity.

Chapter 4 Printing of Packaging and Decoration

Article 25 Enterprises engaged in the printing of packaging and decorative materials shall not produce counterfeit or forged registered trademark labels, nor shall they print advertising materials that may mislead consumers or materials used for product packaging and decoration.

Article 26 When printing enterprises accept commissioned printing of registered trademark marks, they shall verify the copy of the Trademark Registration Certificate bearing the seal of the county-level industrial and commercial administrative department where the trademark registrant is located, and examine the registered trademark design provided by the client. If commissioned by a registered trademark licensee, the printing enterprise shall also verify the trademark licensing agreement. The printing enterprise shall retain copies of the Trademark Registration Certificate, trademark design, and trademark licensing agreement, all bearing the seals of the industrial and commercial administrative department, for two years for inspection purposes.

Where the state has other provisions on the printing of registered trademark marks, printing enterprises shall also comply with such provisions.

Article 27 When a printing enterprise accepts commissioned printing of advertising materials or printed materials for product packaging and decoration, it shall verify the business license of the commissioned printing unit or the resident identity card of the individual. When accepting commissioned printing of advertising materials from advertising operators, it shall also verify the qualification certificate for advertising operations.

Article 28. When a printing enterprise undertakes the printing of commissioned packaging and decorative materials, it shall deliver all printed products—including finished items, semi-finished products, defective items, as well as printing plates, paper patterns, negatives, and original manuscripts—to the commissioning entity or individual, and shall not retain any of these materials without authorization.

Article 29. Printing enterprises undertaking the printing of overseas packaging and decoration materials on commission shall file a record with the publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government where they are located in advance; all printed packaging and decoration materials must be exported and shall not be sold within the territory.

Chapter 5 Printing of Other Printed Materials

Article 30 The printing of documents, materials, charts, etc. marked with classification levels shall be conducted in accordance with the relevant laws, regulations, or rules of the state.

Article 31: When commissioning the printing of official notices, announcements, work permits for major events, travel passes, or tickets for public circulation, the printing unit must provide the printing enterprise with a certificate issued by the competent authority. The printing enterprise shall verify the certificate and retain a duplicate for two years for inspection purposes. Furthermore, the printing enterprise shall not subcontract the printing of such materials to any third party.

For valuable or non-valuable tickets used internally by printing agencies, organizations, military units, or enterprises, as well as special certificates bearing the organization's name (e.g., letters of introduction, work IDs, membership cards, access permits, degree certificates, academic credentials, or other educational documents), the printing unit must provide a printing authorization certificate. Printing enterprises are required to verify this authorization certificate.

Printing enterprises shall not retain samples or sample sheets of the aforementioned two types of printed materials. If retention is indeed necessary for business reference purposes, the consent of the printing commissioning unit must be obtained. The retained materials shall be stamped with the labels "Sample" or "Sample Sheet" and properly stored to prevent loss.

Article 32. When printing enterprises undertake commissioned printing of religious materials, they must verify the approval documents issued by the religious affairs administrative departments of provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal governments, as well as the printing license issued by the publishing administrative departments of the same governments. The publishing administrative departments shall make a decision on whether to issue the printing license within 10 days of receiving the application and notify the applicant. Failure to make a decision within the stipulated period shall be deemed as consent to printing.

Article 33 Individuals engaged in other printing-related business activities shall not print documents, materials, charts, or other materials marked with classified levels; shall not print announcements, notices, work permits for major events, passes, or tickets for public circulation; shall not print valuable or non-valuable tickets for internal use by government agencies, organizations, military units, or enterprises; shall not print special certificates such as letters of introduction, work permits, membership cards, access permits, degree certificates, academic certificates, or other academic credentials bearing the names of organizations; and shall not print religious items.

Article 34: For the printing of other overseas publications upon commission, prior filing with the publishing administrative department of the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government where the entity is located is mandatory. All printed materials must be exported and shall not be sold within the territory.

Article 35. Printing enterprises and individuals engaged in other printing operations shall not: (1) reproduce others' printed materials without authorization; (2) sell, unauthorizedly reprint, or accept third-party commissions for reprinting commissioned materials; (3) transfer the paper patterns or printing negatives of commissioned materials to other entities or individuals through sale, lease, lending, or any other means.

Chapter VI Penalties

Article 36. Any entity that violates these Regulations by establishing a publishing printing business without authorization or engaging in printing operations without proper authorization shall be shut down by the publishing administration and industrial and commercial authorities within their statutory powers. The printing materials, illegal proceeds, and specialized tools or equipment used for illegal activities shall be confiscated. For illegal business operations exceeding 10,000 yuan, a fine of 5 to 10 times the amount of illegal operations shall be imposed; for those below 10,000 yuan, a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan shall be imposed. If the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued according to law.

Any printing factory (or printing office) established within an organization that engages in printing business activities without completing the required procedures as stipulated in Chapter II of these Regulations shall be subject to penalties in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 37. Any printing business operator violating these Regulations through the following acts shall be subject to: (1) an order from the local publishing administrative department of the people's government at or above the county level to cease illegal activities and suspend operations for rectification; (2) confiscation of printed materials and illegal proceeds; (3) a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; or (4) a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan if the amount is less than 10,000 yuan. In cases of serious violations, the original licensing authority shall revoke the license. Where the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be pursued according to law.

(1) Engaging in or altering the printing business of publications, packaging and decorative printing materials or other printed materials without obtaining permission from the publishing administrative department, or merging with other printing business operators without authorization;

(2) Where a new printing business operator is established through merger or division without completing the required procedures as stipulated in these Regulations;

(3) Selling, leasing, lending, or otherwise transferring a printing business license.

Article 38. Where a printing business operator knowingly or should have known to print publications, packaging or decorative printing materials, or other printed materials containing content prohibited under Article 3 of these Regulations, or to print publications expressly banned by the state or those published by non-publishing entities, the local publishing administrative department and public security department of the people's government at or above the county level shall, within their statutory authority, order the business to suspend operations for rectification, confiscate the printed materials and illegal proceeds. For illegal business operations exceeding 10,000 yuan, a fine of 5 to 10 times the amount of illegal business operations shall be imposed; for those below 10,000 yuan, a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan shall be imposed. In serious cases, the original licensing authority shall revoke the license. If the act constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the law.

Article 39. Where a printing business operator commits any of the following acts, the publishing administrative department or public security department of the local people's government at or above the county level shall, in accordance with their statutory powers, order rectification and issue a warning; in cases of serious violations, the business shall be ordered to suspend operations for rectification or the original licensing authority shall revoke the license:

(1) Failure to establish systems for printing verification, registration, storage, delivery, or disposal of defective printed materials;

(2) Failing to promptly report discovered illegal or criminal acts in printing operations to public security authorities or publishing regulatory departments;

(3) Failing to file with the original publishing administrative department for approval when changing major registration particulars such as name, legal representative or person in charge, registered address or business premises, or terminating printing operations;

(4) Failing to retain materials for inspection as required by these Regulations.

Any unit that establishes a printing factory (or printing office) in violation of these regulations without completing registration procedures with the local publishing administrative department and confidentiality department of the people's government at or above the county level shall be ordered to rectify by the said departments according to their statutory authority and given a warning. In serious cases, the unit shall be ordered to suspend operations for rectification.

Article 40. Enterprises engaged in publication printing operations shall be subject to the following penalties by the publishing administrative departments of local people's governments at or above the county level: (1) a warning and confiscation of illegal proceeds; (2) a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; (3) a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan if the amount is less than 10,000 yuan; (4) suspension of business operations for rectification or revocation of the license by the original issuing authority in cases of serious violations; (5) criminal liability shall be pursued where the act constitutes a crime.

(1) Accepting a commission from others to print publications without verifying the printing commission letter, relevant certificates, or printing license as required by these regulations, or failing to file the printing commission letter with the publishing administrative department;

(2) Printing or publishing materials under the false name or by misappropriation of another's identity;

(3) stealing or forging others' publications;

(4) illegally reprinting or selling publications that were commissioned for printing;

(5) subscription and sale of publications;

(6) Selling, leasing, lending, or otherwise transferring the paper types or printing negatives of publications commissioned by publishing houses;

(7) Accepting commissions to print foreign publications without approval, or failing to export all printed foreign publications.

Article 41 Enterprises engaged in packaging and decorative printing business activities shall be subject to the following penalties by the publishing administrative departments of local people's governments at or above the county level: (1) a warning and confiscation of illegal gains; (2) a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; (3) a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan if the amount is less than 10,000 yuan; (4) suspension of business operations for rectification or revocation of the license by the original issuing authority in serious cases; (5) criminal liability if the act constitutes a crime.

(1) Accepting entrusted printing of registered trademark marks without verifying or checking, as required by these Regulations, the photocopy of the Trademark Registration Certificate bearing the seal of the administrative department of industry and commerce, the registered trademark design, or the photocopy of the trademark licensing agreement;

(2) Accepting commissioned printing of advertising materials or product packaging without verifying the business license of the printing unit or the resident identity card of the individual as required by these regulations, or accepting advertising materials from advertising operators without verifying their qualification certificates;

(3) Counterfeiting others' printed packaging or decorative materials;

(4) Accepting commissioned printing of overseas packaging and decoration materials without filing with the publishing administrative department as required by these Regulations, or failing to export all printed overseas packaging and decoration materials.

When printing enterprises accept commissions to print registered trademark logos or advertising materials in violation of national regulations on trademark and advertising printing management, the administrative department of industry and commerce shall issue a warning, confiscate the printed materials and illegal gains, and impose a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; otherwise, a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan shall be imposed.

Article 42. Enterprises or individuals engaged in printing business activities shall be subject to the following penalties by the publishing administrative departments of local people's governments at or above the county level: (1) a warning, confiscation of printed materials and illegal gains; (2) a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; (3) a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan if the amount is less than 10,000 yuan; (4) suspension of business operations for rectification or license revocation by the original licensing authority in serious cases; (5) criminal liability if the act constitutes a crime.

(1) Accepting commissions to print other printed materials without verifying the relevant certificates as required by these regulations;

(2) Reassigning to others the printing of other commissioned materials without authorization;

(3) selling, leasing, lending, or otherwise transferring the paper patterns and printing negatives of other commissioned prints;

(4) forging or altering official documents or certificates issued by state organs, enterprises, institutions, or people's organizations, such as academic degree certificates or diplomas, or producing counterfeit copies of others' printed materials;

(5) illegally reprinting or selling other printed materials that were commissioned for printing;

(6) Accepting commissioned printing of other overseas publications without filing with the publishing administrative department as required by these Regulations, or failing to export all such publications;

(7) Individuals engaged in other printing business activities exceed their authorized scope of operation.

Article 43. Any entity committing any of the following acts shall be subject to the following penalties by the publishing administrative department: (1) a warning, confiscation of printed materials and illegal proceeds; (2) a fine of 5 to 10 times the illegal business turnover if the amount exceeds 10,000 yuan; (3) a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 yuan if the amount is less than 10,000 yuan; (4) suspension of business operations or revocation of the printing business license for serious violations; (5) criminal liability if the act constitutes a crime.

(1) Printing notices, announcements, work permits for major events, passes, or tickets for public circulation without obtaining certification from the competent authority, or entrusting others to print such materials;

(2) Where a printing business operator forges or alters official documents or certificates of state organs, enterprises, institutions, or people's organizations, such as academic degree certificates or educational qualification certificates.

If a printing unit entrusted with printing press releases, notices, work permits for major events, passes, or tickets and certificates used in public circulation fails to obtain certification from the competent authority, the publishing administrative department of the people's government at or above the county level shall impose a fine ranging from 500 to 5,000 yuan.

Article 44 Where a printing business operator violates the provisions of these Regulations by committing any of the following acts, the publishing administrative department of the local people's government at or above the county level shall order it to make corrections and issue a warning; in serious cases, it shall be ordered to suspend business for rectification or have its license revoked by the original licensing authority:

(1) Enterprises engaged in packaging and decoration printing business that retain, without authorization, finished products, semi-finished products, waste materials, printing plates, paper patterns, printing negatives, or original manuscripts of commissioned packaging and decoration prints;

(2) Enterprises or individuals engaged in other printing operations that retain samples or sample sheets of other printed materials without authorization, or fail to affix the official stamps 'Sample' or 'Sample Sheet' to such retained materials.

Article 45. Where a printing enterprise is subject to administrative penalty of license revocation, its legal representative or responsible person shall be barred from serving as such position for 10 years from the date of license revocation.

Individuals engaged in printing business activities shall be prohibited from operating within 10 years from the date of license revocation if they receive administrative penalties including license revocation.

Article 46. For administrative penalties involving fines imposed in accordance with these Regulations, the separation of fine decision and fine collection shall be implemented in compliance with relevant laws and administrative regulations; all collected fines must be remitted to the state treasury.

Article 47 Where publishing administrative departments, industrial and commercial administrative departments, or other relevant authorities violate the provisions of these Regulations by approving license or approval documents to applicants who do not meet statutory requirements without authorization, neglecting supervisory duties, or failing to investigate and penalize illegal acts, thereby causing serious consequences, the responsible supervisors and other directly liable personnel shall be subject to demotion or dismissal. If such acts constitute a crime, criminal liability shall be investigated in accordance with the law.

Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions

Article 48. Printing enterprises that were legally established prior to the implementation of these Regulations shall, within 180 days from the effective date of these Regulations, apply to the publishing administrative department for a replacement of the Printing Business License.

Permits issued under these regulations shall not be subject to any additional fees beyond the statutory cost fee.

      Article 49 These Regulations shall come into force on the date of promulgation. The Regulations on the Administration of the Printing Industry promulgated by the State Council on March 8, 1997 shall be repealed simultaneously.