The Ministry of Justice ("MOJ") has recently issued the Work Plan for the Pilot Program on the Notification and Commitment Mechanism for Certification Items (the "Plan").
The Plan reads that it is decided to launch this pilot program in 13 provinces (municipalities directly under the Central Government), including Tianjin, and among five departments under the State Council, including the Ministry of Public Security ("MPS"), adding that the aim of the pilot program is to clearly specify the fields in which the notification and commitment mechanism will apply to certification items. Further, the Plan calls for efforts to: 1. make clear to whom the notification and commitment mechanism will apply; 2. standardize work procedures for the notification and commitment mechanism; 3. tighten the in-process and ex-post checks; 4. explore ways to punish discreditable acts; and 5. intensify risk prevention measures. Among others, the Plan states that applicants' credit records and the blacklist system for false commitments will be created according to law, with a view to strengthening the building of a society of good faith and maintaining a social atmosphere where parties acting in good faith will be incentivized while those acting in bad faith will face punishment. Furthermore, efforts will be stepped up to impose joint punishment on dishonest parties, improve joint actions by various departments, and optimize the joint punishment mechanism under which "a single discreditable act will result in restrictions everywhere".