The Administrative Regulations on Audio-visual Products were promulgated in 2001 and amended in 2011, 2013 and 2016 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on 6 Feb. 2016.
There are 50 articles in total, which aim to regulate audio-visual products and develop the audio-visual industry.
The key points are as follows:
The Regulations are applicable to publication, production, reproduction, import, wholesale, retail and rental of audio-visual products, such as audio tapes, video tapes, records, compact discs and laser video discs.
No audio-visual product shall contain contents prohibited by laws, administrative regulations and national regulations.
The competent administrative publishing department is responsible for the supervision and administration of publication, production, reproduction, import, wholesale, retail and rental of audio-visual products.
China implements a licensing system for publication, production, reproduction, import, wholesale and retail of audio-visual products; without permission, no unit or individual may engage in publication, production, reproduction, import, wholesale and retail of audio-visual products.
The application for the establishment of audio-visual publishing unit shall be subject to the approval for the publication license of audio-visual products.
The application for engage in audio-visual products reproduction business shall be subject to the approval for the business license of reproduction.
The import business of audio-visual products shall be operated by the audio-visual products import business units approved by the competent administrative publishing department under the State Council.
Audio-visual products imported for publication, and audio-visual products imported for wholesale, retail, rental, etc., shall be reported to the competent administrative publishing department under the State Council for censoring.
Those who intend to engage in the wholesale and retail business of audio-visual products shall obtain the publication business license.