* The state works out unified charging items and standards

* Local governments are banned from adding new charging items in purchasing, registration and using sectors.

* Departments are prohibited from imposing non-operational service charges on consumers

Approved by the State Council, Auto Industry Development Policy was officially released by National Development and Reform Commission on June 1. Industrial Policy of Auto Industry, which was issued in 1994, ceased to be effective on the same day.

It was learned that compared with Industrial Policy of Auto Industry the new policy has the following seven characteristics:

First it abolished the contents inconsistent with the WTO rules and the undertakings that China made when joining the WTO. Secondly it drastically reduced administrative examination and approval procedures. Thirdly it puts forward a brand strategy encouraging the development of products with independent intellectual rights. Fourthly it directs existing auto producers to merge and restructure in order to nurture big and strong domestic auto corporation groups. Fifthly it requires auto producers to pay attention to establishing brand sales and service system. Sixthly it directs and encourages the development of energy-efficient and environment-friendly automobiles and automobiles that use new types of fuels. Seventhly it provides guiding opinions on creating better consumption environment.

With regard to nurturing private consumption dominated auto market, improving auto use environment and protecting the interests of auto consumers, Auto Industry Development Policy stipulates that the State enacts and releases unified charging items and standards on all administrative charges and governmental funds relating to automobiles and normalizes governmental charges during auto registration and use processes; that local governments are prohibited from adding new administrative charges and increasing the items and amount of governmental funds in the purchasing, registration and use sectors. With the exception of charging items stipulated by the government no department is allowed to impose any non-operational service charges on auto consumers.

In addition Auto Industry Development Policy stipulates that the State designated four costal ports including Dalian New Port, Tianjin New Port, Shanghai Port and Huangpu Port, two inland ports including Manzhouli and Shenzhen (Huangang) ports and Xinjiang Alashankou port (importing whole automobiles originally produced in the Commonwealth of Independent States for use of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region) as whole-automobile import ports. All whole-automobile import must enter through the abovementioned ports.

Auto Industry Development Policy includes contents such as policy goals, development plan, technology policy, restructuring, market access control and trademark and brand etc.

By People's Daily Online