快递条例草案(kuàidì tiáolì cǎoàn): Draft regulation on express delivery

On Wednesday, the State Council, China's Cabinet, approved the draft of a regulation on express delivery and released it to solicit public opinions.

The draft regulation on the express delivery aims to regulate and promote the development of the express delivery industry through streamlining procedures for its expansion, reducing logistics costs and defining the rights and responsibilities of the delivery companies, their employees and customers.

In China the express delivery industry has developed rapidly in recent years. A total of 17.4 billion packages were delivered nationwide in the first half of this year, a year-on-year rise of 31.4 percent, according to statistics from the State Post Bureau. There are now more than 21,000 express delivery enterprises and more than 2 million delivery personnel in China.

The draft clarifies the rules for delivery services and the responsibilities of the express delivery companies with regard to delivery of dangerous goods, and sets out the legal rights of the companies, their employees and customers. In addition, it also regulates compensation for goods damaged during delivery and the protection of customer information.

The draft regulation also stipulates real name registration for senders and recipients of express packages.