On the morning of April 8, the General Administration of Market Supervision held a special press conference on the investigation and handling of “Iron Fist” action in the field of people’s livelihood in 2024. The following is the transcript of the press conference:
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Geng Xin, Deputy Director General of the Press and Publicity Department of the General Administration of Market Regulation: Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the press. Welcome to today’s special press conference of the General Administration for Market Regulation. In recent years, market regulatory departments at all levels have continued to carry out the “Iron fist” action in the field of people’s livelihood, effectively deterring all kinds of violations of laws and regulations. In total, today is the fourth press conference dedicated to the “Iron Fist” action, showing that the “Iron Fist” action is a highly concerned and iconic regulatory law enforcement work of the society.
This year, the market regulatory authorities will continue to focus on social concerns, further increase law enforcement in key areas such as industrial products, food, special equipment and anti-fraud, and effectively safeguard the interests of the people.
In order to facilitate everyone to understand the deployment and progress of the “Iron Fist” operation, we have invited Mr. Kuang Xu, Director of the Law Enforcement Inspection Bureau of the General Administration of China, to report the results of the “Iron Fist” operation in 2023 and the work deployment in 2024. In addition, we also invite Mr. Gu Baozhong, Market Inspector of the Advertising Regulation Department, Ms. Tong Bo, Deputy Director of the Enforcement Inspection Bureau, and Mr. Zhou Liang, Deputy Director of the Special Equipment Bureau, to answer your questions of interest.
First of all, I would like to brief you on the relevant information.
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Kuang Xu, Director of the Law Enforcement and Inspection Bureau of the General Administration of Market Regulation: Friends from the media, good morning! Thank you for your continued concern and support for Operation Iron Fist. I would like to introduce to you the general situation of the “Iron Fist” operation in 2023 and the operation arrangement in 2024. In 2023, market regulatory departments at all levels firmly grasp the center of “people’s livelihood”, focus on illegal acts that endanger people’s lives and health and property safety, strike hard and enforce the law with an iron fist, and adhere to the combination of fighting and fighting, taking into account the intensity and effect of law enforcement, forming a work pattern of protecting people’s livelihood by law enforcement and promoting development by law enforcement, and achieving remarkable results.
First, careful organization and implementation. Issued the 2023 “Iron Fist” Action Plan for the Investigation and Handling of Cases in the Field of People’s Livelihood, held the national market supervision system “Iron Fist” action deployment meeting in the field of people’s livelihood, guided and urged all localities to deeply investigate hidden problems, strive to solve deep-level contradictions, continuously improve the quality and efficiency of case handling, and continue to release the warning and deterrent effect. Establish and improve systems and mechanisms for case investigation and handling, exposure and deterrence, and long-term governance. Local market supervision departments comprehensively adopted various measures such as research guidance, typical demonstrations, case supervision, and key supervision, and the “Iron Fist” action was rapidly rolled out and deeply promoted throughout the country.
Second, we must adhere to the problem-oriented approach and make every effort to address prominent problems around the people. In accordance with the law, we will severely crack down on the illegal addition of substances such as lowering sugar, lowering blood pressure and lowering fat in food, fake and shoddy fertilizers, false propaganda such as “miracle medicine” and “miracle medicine” false and illegal advertising, the production and sale of inferior gas appliances, the illegal production and use of small boilers and the use of unregistered elevators, the use of unfair format clauses to violate the rights and interests of consumers, counterfeit well-known brands and “piggy-back celebrities” and “free riding” Market supervision departments at all levels investigated 565,000 illegal cases in the field of people’s livelihood, involving a value of 2.81 billion yuan, and publicly exposed 1,034 typical cases to the society. At the same time, guide all localities to identify “optional actions” based on local realities, coordinate the “Iron Fist” action and special law enforcement tasks to form a joint force, and increase four types of “optional actions” including infringement of consumer personal information in Tianjin based on actual conditions; Shanxi combined seasonal characteristics with public concerns to carry out a special operation of “Four seasons Guard Iron Fist Attack”.
Third, we will strictly investigate and handle cases. Throughout the year, 128 key cases such as illegal addition of food, production and sale of unqualified liquefied petroleum gas, counterfeit agricultural fertilizers and well-known brands, and infringement of others’ registered trademarks were listed and supervised. The market supervision department of Anhui Province jointly investigated a case of counterfeit brand clothing, destroyed 9 production dens in the province, went to other provinces to seize 7 enterprises that provided auxiliary materials, seized counterfeit brand goods worth more than 10 million yuan, and took compulsory measures against 11 people involved; The market supervision Bureau of Qiantang District and Yuhang District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province jointly investigated and dealt with 13 business entities such as Runfeng daily use commercial gas stoves that produced and sold without installing flame-out protection devices, and the parties involved were suspected of committing crimes and transferred to the public security organs.
Fourth, improve the working mechanism. All localities have given full play to their advantages in comprehensive market supervision and law enforcement, established and improved working mechanisms for case investigation, investigation and guidance, and publicity and exposure, and promoted the “Iron Fist” operation to be regularly and permanently treated. Beijing has improved the six systems and mechanisms of urban law enforcement offices to create a “unified, authoritative and efficient” three-level law enforcement command and coordination system for urban offices. Jiangsu organized the compilation of the 2023 “Iron Fist” Operation Illegal Cases Investigation Guide “and” Four Types of “Iron Fist” Cases Electronic Evidence Guide “; Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to build a “director – group leader – film director – director” of the “four long” law enforcement and supervision system, fully explore the source of cases. Xianyang in Shaanxi Province plays the role of joint leadership, upper and lower linkage, joint investigation of cases, and joint distribution of media, and clenches fingers into fists.
Fifth, strengthen propaganda and deterrence. Local governments have systematically carried out multidimensional and three-dimensional publicity in a way that the people are happy to hear, and have done a good job of focusing on exposure, in-depth reporting, interpreting the case, and experts saying the case, so as to build social consensus and promote social co-governance. Shanghai guest “China Shanghai” portal website online interview, released a series of science popularization short videos, strengthen the interpretation of the case; Jiangxi Xinyu opened the “municipal supervision micro-lens” column to release the latest developments of the “Iron Fist” action to the society in real time; Tibet Qamdo joint with the local financial media to shoot the “Rule of law three Rivers” column to publicize the fight against infringement and counterfeiting typical cases; Ningxia Guyuan self-written and self-performed the popular law situational drama “Who moved my pension money”, which has been widely praised.
This is the overall situation of Operation Iron Fist in 2023. In January this year, the State Administration held the 2024 “Iron Fist” action deployment meeting in the field of people’s livelihood, and various work is being actively promoted. In 2024, the “Iron Fist” action focuses on “protecting people’s livelihood”, highlighting the two themes of “security” and “anti-fraud”, focusing on the pain points and difficulties of social concern and public concern, and implementing a strong crackdown.
First, highlight the theme of “safety”, and strictly investigate and punish illegal cases in the field of “two products and one special” such as industrial products, food and special equipment. In the field of industrial products, it highlights key products such as gas stoves, electric bicycles, and children’s toys that involve the personal and property safety of consumers, and focuses on investigating and dealing with illegal acts such as counterfeit, shoddy, and unqualified products passing off as qualified products. In the field of food, we will focus on claiming functional foods such as analgesia and sleep, and crack down on illegal additions of drugs and their derivatives. In the field of special equipment, focus on investigating and dealing with illegal production and use of small boilers. At the same time, the illegal behavior of issuing false and untrue inspection and testing reports in the above fields is strictly investigated and punished to comprehensively improve product quality and food safety level.
The second is to highlight the theme of “anti-fraud”, and strictly investigate and punish all kinds of illegal cases that infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of consumers online and offline. Focus on the investigation of metering cheating, the use of unfair format clauses to infringe on consumer rights, trademark infringement, forgery or fraudulent use of geographical indications, price fraud, false illegal advertising and other illegal cases.
Third, local market supervision departments are required to carefully organize the investigation and handling of cases in the above areas, and at the same time, determine the focus of case investigation and handling in combination with the actual situation of local industry distribution, consumption environment, and mass demands. Adhere to the unity of routine arrangements and special tasks, actively give full play to the advantages of the “Iron Fist” mechanism in comprehensive coordination, pulling and efficient coordination, and incorporate relevant major special law enforcement tasks into the “Iron Fist” action.
Fourth, establish and improve long-term mechanisms. In the process of investigating and handling cases, law enforcement agencies find that there may be industrial problems, regional problems, emerging risks and hidden dangers, and actively promote regulatory departments and industry management departments to study and solve; Institutional factors have led to the difficulty of law enforcement, repeated investigation of illegal problems, and continuous fighting, to consult the relevant units to establish a root mechanism, constantly improve the relevant system, and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Fifth, organize a series of publicity activities. Through the “centralized exposure day” and “centralized exposure platform”, market supervision departments at all levels have unified exposure of typical cases and amplified the deterrent effect. Relying on the “March 15 International Consumer Rights and Interests Day”, “World Intellectual Property Day”, “Quality Month”, “Food Safety Publicity Week” and other important time nodes, organize and carry out various themed activities. Establish an “industry special exposure mechanism” in the trademark and patent agency, inspection and testing industries, expose illegal enterprises in batches for the whole industry, and increase the role of warning and education. In-depth and extensive cooperation with the media, a good case exposure, tracking reports, experts say the case, with the case interpretation of the combination of fists, shout to strengthen the “iron fist” brand.
It is hoped that friends from the media will continue to support and pay attention to the “Iron Fist” action, actively publicize and report, and jointly maintain fair market order and assured consumption environment. Thank you all!
Geng Xin, Deputy Director of the Press and Publicity Department of the General Administration of Market Regulation: Thank you, Director Kuang Xu. Now let’s move on to questions, please inform your news organization before you ask.
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China Media Group: We have noted that in today’s press conference, while announcing the overall situation, we also summarized and released the “Ten typical cases of the Iron Fist Operation in 2023”. This is a new measure that is different from previous years. What is the consideration behind this measure?
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Tong Bo, Deputy Director of the Law enforcement Inspection Bureau of the General Administration of Market Supervision: In 2023, the “Iron Fist” action in the field of people’s livelihood, the national market supervision department investigated and handled 565,000 illegal cases, and publicly exposed 1034 typical cases to the society. In such a large number of cases, we selected ten as ten typical cases. The ten cases cover food safety, product quality safety, special equipment safety, false illegal advertising, consumer rights protection, intellectual property rights infringement and other fields. The main features: first, the illegal behavior is typical, and some cases are relatively bad in nature, such as adding chemical substances other than food additives in food, claiming disease treatment function and using medical terms in cosmetic advertisements; Second, the case is more complex, more difficult to investigate and handle, and the level of case handling is higher, and it has a strong guiding role.
Through the release of ten typical cases this way, give full play to the deterrent effect of typical cases, and release a clear signal to the society – for such illegal acts, the market supervision department, once found, will strike hard, severely investigate and punish, and effectively deter offenders. Encourage relevant industries to pay attention to prevent similar violations. At the same time, we will guide the people to pay attention to and supervise together. Cracking down on illegal activities requires the participation of the whole society. In daily life, the masses are dissatisfied with some illegal phenomena and think that it is unreasonable, but they are not necessarily aware that it is illegal. For example, some use of standard terms to infringe on the rights and interests of consumers, the use of trademarks similar to well-known brands to deceive consumers, and so on. Through the publication of typical cases, the interpretation of the law with cases, and the popularization of the law with cases, so that the broad masses of the people can join in the supervision of illegal acts and crack down on illegal actions.
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China Economic Net: We have noticed that in recent years, the State Administration of Market Regulation has continuously listed the crackdown on advertising of “miracle medicine” and “miracle medicine” as an important work item of the “Iron Fist” campaign. How about the results?
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Gu Baozhong, Market Inspector of the Advertising Supervision Department of the General Administration of Market Regulation: I will answer this question. Maintaining the order of the advertising market in key areas of people’s livelihood such as medical care, drugs, medical devices, and health food is of great significance to protecting the safety of people’s lives and property and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. The General Administration of Market Supervision has always adhered to the concept of supervision for the people, and continued to play an “iron fist” in response to the chaos of “God medicine” and “God medicine” advertising that has been reflected by the masses. In 2023, the national market supervision department investigated and punished 9572 illegal advertising cases of “divine medicine” and “divine medicine”, and fined 125 million yuan, forming an effective deterrent.
First, strengthen advertising monitoring. Improve the advertising monitoring system and mechanism, and continuously improve the monitoring capacity of Internet advertising while ensuring continuous advertising supervision of traditional media. Actively work with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine to carry out special monitoring work related to illegal advertisements of traditional Chinese medicine, and improve the timeliness and accuracy of discovering illegal clues of “divine medicine” and “divine medicine” advertisements.
Second, focus on the key areas of rectification. Maintain a high-pressure crackdown on illegal behaviors in medical beauty advertising, and organize local market supervision departments to carry out cross-checks on illegal cases in medical beauty advertising. We continued to intensify efforts to clean up and rectify illegal acts of advertising “divine medicine” and “divine medicine” in forms such as health popularization, and investigated and exposed a number of typical cases.
Third, we will strengthen coordinated oversight. Cooperate with the National Health Commission to carry out “flight inspection” in the field of medical cosmetology, and promote local strengthening of cross-departmental comprehensive supervision of the medical cosmetology industry. Actively work with the National Health Commission to study and promote the revision of the “Medical Advertising Management Measures”, and strive to build a more scientific and efficient system of medical advertising regulatory rules.
In 2024, the General Administration of Market Supervision will continue to pay close attention to the livelihood of the people’s livelihood, organize a special campaign to carry out advertising supervision in the livelihood of the people’s livelihood across the country, severely crack down on false and illegal advertising in the fields of medical care, drugs, health food, medical equipment, education and training that are closely related to the people’s lives, and effectively solve the people’s urgent problems and worries. Continue to purify the advertising market environment.
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China News Service: Why continue to carry out special rectification of small boilers? How will the work focus be carried out?
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Zhou Liang, Deputy Director of the Special Equipment Bureau of the General Administration of Market Regulation: I will answer this question. Boiler structure is complex, long-term operation under high temperature and high pressure, is a special equipment with explosion risk. Small boilers are widely used in our production and life, and are important tools in hot water supply, food processing, textile printing and dyeing, wood and metal products processing and other industries, with a large number and distribution. In recent years, the accident statistics show that there is an increasing trend of small boiler accidents, resulting in certain casualties and economic losses. The investigation found that the small boilers that occurred in the accident often had “three no” problems such as not handling the use registration, not conducting the inspection, and unlicensed operation, and some even falsely labeled parameters and evaded supervision. In 2023, the General Administration of Market Supervision deployed special rectification of small boiler safety, and included it in the “Iron Fist Action”, a comprehensive investigation and rectification of small boiler safety hazards, a total of 46,000 boilers were inspected throughout the year, and 1,072 boilers with serious safety hazards such as “large capacity small standard” and delayed inspection were investigated and dealt with, effectively cracking down on illegal production and use of small boilers. This year, the General Administration of Market Supervision will continue to carry out special rectification of small boiler safety, expand the achievements, mainly carry out the following aspects of work:
First, conduct a comprehensive investigation. Combined with the registration information of enterprises, the key industries such as bathing, food processing, textile printing and dyeing, wood and metal products production are comprehensively surveyed; Combined with reporting clues, according to the registration data of boiler use, on-site verification of places with obvious smoke exhaust and use of hot water (or steam) should be carried out, and no clues should be missed.
Second, we will strengthen governance at the source. For boilers with “large capacity and small label” and false parameter labeling, a cross-regional information sharing and joint law enforcement mechanism shall be established. If illegal use of small boilers is found, the purchase contract shall be checked, and the boiler manufacturing information shall be shared with the supervision department of the production place to achieve the effect of treating both symptoms and root causes; If the illegal production of small boilers is found, the production and sales records shall be checked, and the sales information of the illegally produced boilers shall be shared with the supervisory authorities of the place of purchase, and the illegal use shall be investigated and punished in a timely manner.
Third, intensify law enforcement. We will seriously investigate and punish violations of laws and regulations of small boilers, and order all boilers with “three nots” such as failure to register for use, failure to conduct inspections, and unlicensed operation to stop using them. Boilers with “large capacity and small standard” and false parameters shall be sealed up and punished according to the law. Continue to publicize illegal production and use