SCLAO Seeks Comment on Investment Approval Law

On July 23, the State Council Legislative Affairs Office (SCLAO) released for public comment the Administrative Regulations on Government Examination, Approval and Record-filing of Investment Projects (Draft for Comment) with a comment period ending August 23. This regulation was drafted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and previously released for public comment from June 12 to 22, 2015. The newly released version is almost identical to the previous version.

According to the Draft, enterprise investment projects will only be subject to government approval in the following situations:

• National security
• Ecological security
• National major manufacturing capacity arrangements
• Strategic resource development
• Essential public interest

To enable more effective processing and supervision, the government will gradually establish an online system through which the public can check the status of their respective investment approvals. All projects that do not involve national or commercial secrets will be made public and accessible online.