If the content of your website contains information about the news, publishing, drugs, and medical device industries, you need to obtain the specified pre-approval. This topic describes different industries that require a pre-approval and the authorities that issue pre-approvals. If your website needs to obtain a pre-approval, contact the specified local authority.
Industries and authorities
The following table lists the industries that require a pre-approval and the authorities that issue pre-approvals.
| Industry | Authority | Pre-approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| News | The State Council Information Office or the information office of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality | Internet News Information Service License | None |
| Publishing | The State Administration of Press Publication, Radio, Film, and Television | Internet Publishing License | None |
| Drugs and medical devices | Provincial food and drug administrations and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (issuing pre-approvals for pesticide or chemical production enterprises) | Drug Business License , Permit for Medical Device Operation Enterprises , Qualification Certificate for Medicine Trading Services on the Internet , and Permit for Chemical Drugs issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology | None |
| Culture | Provincial departments of culture | Internet Culture Business Permit | None |
| Broadcasts, films, and television programs | The National Radio and Television Administration | License for Publication of Audio-Visual Programs through Information Network | None |
| Education | Provincial departments of education | None | The pre-approval has been abolished in all provinces except Zhejiang, Qinghai, and Tibet. |
| Healthcare | Provincial departments of public health | None | The pre-approval has been abolished in all provinces except Hebei and Tibet. |
| Online taxi booking | The traffic management committee of the region where the company is registered | Online Taxi Booking Business Permit | None |
| Electronic bulletin | Provincial communications administrations | None | The pre-approval is abolished in China. |
| Finance |
|
None | None |
| Games | Publishing Bureau of Central Propaganda Department of Communist Party of China (CPC) | None | None |
News
Internet news information services include the publishing of news information through the Internet, provision of electronic bulletin services on current affairs and politics, and transmission of communicative information on current affairs and politics to the public. News information as mentioned in this topic indicates the news information on current affairs and politics, including the relevant reports and comments on politics, economy, military affairs, diplomacy, and other public affairs, as well as the relevant reports and comments on public emergencies. Internet news information services may be divided into the following three categories:
Category 1: the news information other than that has been published and broadcast by, the electronic bulletin services concerning current affairs and politics provided by, and the communicative information on current affairs and politics transmitted to the public by the Internet news information service providers.
Category 2: the news information reprinted by, the electronic bulletin services concerning current affairs and politics provided by, and the communicative information on current affairs and politics transmitted to the public by non-Internet news information service providers.
Category 3: the news information published by the news entities which has been published or broadcast by the said news entities.
Publishing
Internet publishing refers to the online dissemination of information. Specifically, the service provider selects and edits works, either self-created or created by others, and publishes the edited works or transmits the edited works over the Internet to user terminals for the public to view, read, use, or download. The works mainly include the books, newspapers, periodicals, audio and video products, electronic publications, and other works that have been officially published, the works that have been publicly released on other media, and edited works on literature, art, natural science, social science, or engineering technology, and so on.
All business activities involving online electronic reading, electronic publications, audio-visual products, Internet books, Internet newspapers, Internet magazines, mobile phone publications, academic publications, art publications, educational publications, and maps on the Internet and mobile networks must apply for the Internet Publishing License from relevant authorities.
Drugs and medical devices
According to The Measures Regarding the Administration of Drug Information Service over the Internet, drug information services over the Internet refer to the provision of information on drugs, including medical devices, over the Internet for Internet users.
Culture
According to The Interim Provisions on the Administration of Internet Culture, Internet cultural products mentioned in this topic refer to the cultural products produced, disseminated, and circulated through the Internet. These products include music, cartoons, and other cultural products.
Broadcasts, films, and television programs
Audio-visual programs consisting of movable pictures or sounds that can be listened to continuously, which are shot and recorded by using video cameras, recorders, and other audio-visual recording equipment, for example, video and live broadcast websites.
Education
Pre-approvals of the education sector apply to educational websites and online schools, such as diploma services, distance education videos, and examination training.
Healthcare
Internet healthcare information services refer to the provision of healthcare information services to online users by setting up websites for medical and health institutions or preventive health knowledge, or by establishing preventive health channels on comprehensive websites.
Online taxi booking
Those engage in online taxi booking operation, management, or other relevant business activities within the municipal administrative area must obtain the Online Taxi Booking Business Permit . Online taxi booking business operations and services refer to business operations in which a service platform is constructed based on the Internet technologies. These businesses integrate information on supply and demand, use qualified vehicles and drivers, and provide non-cruising online taxi booking services. In brief, a company provides online taxi booking services through an Internet platform).
Electronic bulletin
Internet electronic bulletin services (hereinafter referred to as "BBS") refer to the acts of providing conditions for online users to disseminate information through bulletin boards, electronic whiteboards, electronic forums, online chat rooms, message boards, and other interactive forms.
Note: According to the Decision of the State Council on the Fifth Batch of Items Subject to Administrative Examination and Approval at the Management Level to Be Canceled or Delegated to Lower Level, the Article 7 therein abolishes the pre-approval of Internet electronic bulletin services.
Finance
- For Internet payment business, consult the People's Bank of China.
- For online lending business (P2P lending and online petty loan business), consult the provincial financial office and the China Banking Regulatory Commission.
- For Internet insurance business, consult the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.
- For Internet trust and Internet consumer finance business, consult the China Banking Regulatory Commission.
- For equity crowdfunding, Internet funds, fund sales, financing, and financing guarantee business, consult the China Securities Regulatory Commission. If you need to apply for an ICP filing in Jiangsu province and your website contains information about financing and financing guarantee activities, you may consult the local economic and information commission.
- For private equity funds, consult the Asset Management Association of China. If you apply for an ICP filing in Jiangsu province, you need to submit approval documents as required by the financial supervision authority.
- To apply for an ICP filing for websites involving foundations (charity and public funds), you need to submit documents such as a filing registration document verified by the civil affairs department and the letter of guarantee for non-engagement in financial business. If you want to apply for an ICP filing for such entities in Zhejiang province, you need to submit verification documents approved by the financial supervision authority. Entities without required financial permits cannot apply for an ICP filing.
- If the content of your website does not contain any information about financial activities, you need to change the company's registered name or business scope. Otherwise, you cannot apply for an ICP filing for the website.
Games
A game product must obtain a pre-approval granted by the Publishing Bureau of Central Propaganda Department of CPC before it is officially launched and starts collecting fees.