China set to standardize takeout delivery service

World
Europe

An ordinance on takeout delivery industry was issued on Saturday and is about to be carried out across the country in September this year, said Commercial Subcouncil of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the country’s trade promotion agency and the drafter.

Emerging on the heyday of the mode of “Internet plus catering,” the regulation is aimed to bring a quality service to customers and make the industry able to sustainably grow up.

Detailed requirements for delivery companies and deliverymen can be seen in the ordinance, including fixed office space, employees’ age and background, and lawful devices for delivery.

Weibo Photo

The ordinance even goes into details about the workflow. Deliverymen have to respond to delivery assignment within 5 minutes while restaurants that offer takeout food should accept orders placed by customers online within 10 minutes.

In the course of delivery, deliverymen are required to knock on doors softly and to contact customers by calling or messaging if they are not at home. Deliverymen are not permitted to enter customers’ houses or ask for a tip, according to the ordinance.

The council started drafting in April and called for officials and professionals from the fields of supply and marketing, catering and law, and from food delivery services to assess clauses in the regulation and tender their suggestions.

Weibo Photo

The announcement of the ordinance has also made a sensation on Chinese social media as around 300 million people in the country are ordering takeout online.

“It is good to the takeout delivery industry but how to deal with some customers who do not show any respect to deliverymen?” asked @Xingongwuyuan.

“It has been reported that some deliverymen do not follow traffic rules, or hit passersby and flee away. [I] suggest their work card number should be presented on their delivery boxes and uniform, which could restrain their behaviors,” suggested @Qianjinjin

In China, takeout delivery could be a difficult job because customers can trace deliverymen real time. Each delivery is also calculated by time. Deliverymen would be punished or fined if they do not have orders sent to customers before the estimated arrival time. Customers are also invited to evaluate the delivery together with food they order, which could be a reference for other customers.

3km