SAIC Drafts New Foreign Enterprise Registration Measures

On November 17, the State Council Legislative Affairs Office released the Administrative Measures for the Registration of Foreign Enterprises Engaging in Production or Operation within China for public comment. The draft Administrative Measures were spearheaded by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), with a comment period that ends on December 1, 2015. 
 
The draft Administration Measures contain one significant change from the previous version. Whereas in the past, enterprises had to apply to "the SAIC or to its authorized local administrators for industrial and commercial registration," article 2 of the new draft states that "enterprises must apply to industry and commerce administrative departments at provincial level for registration."