China: State Administration for Market Regulation rules on internet platform pricing behaviour including anti-competitive agreements regulation

On 10 April 2026, the rules on internet platform pricing behaviour issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) come into force. Under Article 24, platform operators must establish a compliance management system for pricing, including an internal standardisation of their own pricing behaviour. They must also refine platform rules to guide operators toward regulatory compliance. Operators are to establish public complaint channels for price issues and take timely measures to stop violations. They must properly keep platform price and transaction data, assisting market supervision departments with investigations into price violations. A product quality control system must be created, including random inspections, risk warnings, and handling quality violations. A price supervisor system is to be established for internal oversight of pricing. Network data security must be strengthened, with personal information handled lawfully during pricing activities. Operators must register relevant pricing algorithms according to the law and cooperate with departments like the Cyberspace Administration on security assessments and inspections. A platform’s long-term free business model may be exempt from this rule if it promotes innovation and improves welfare. Interpretive authority primarily rests with the NDRC, SAMR, and CAC. The regulations will remain in force for five years.