The Ministry of Finance ("MOF") has recently drafted and issued the Circular on Issuing the Demand Standard for Express Packaging in Government Procurement (for Trial Implementation) and the Demand Standard for Commodity Packaging in Government Procurement (for Trial Implementation) (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") for public consultation by November 20, 2019.
The Draft for Comment mainly touches upon four aspects as below. First, observance of the requirements for express packaging and commodity packaging set out in the packaging demand standards will be encouraged in government procurement of goods, projects, and services. Second, a government procurement contract should clearly specify the requirements for express packaging and commodity packaging as well as the commitment made by the suppliers, and clarify the random checks, legal liability, among others, during the performance and acceptance inspections. Third, for agreement-based supplies or designated sites for government procurement, and electronic marketplaces for government procurement, suppliers that undertake to use the packaging meeting the packaging demand standards to wrap the express parcels and products shall be marked, and government purchasers shall be guided to give preference to such suppliers. And fourth, departments of finance at all levels shall urge purchasers and procurement agencies to execute the packaging demand standards and provide better guidance in this regard, to promote wider application of the packaging demand standards in government procurement activities.