China has issued new regulations on “ghost kitchens” — food vendors offering only take-out — requiring them for the first time to clearly disclose that status on all online platforms.

Released Thursday by the country’s top market regulator, the rules also require food vendors to operate from a specific physical location, with addresses matching their licensing documents. The measures take effect in June.

For years, food delivery platforms have sought to address concerns that ghost kitchens operating without clear physical addresses or accurate licensing information make oversight difficult.

In 2025, major delivery platforms including Meituan, Ele.me, and JD.com introduced optional labels indicating whether a vendor offered dine-in service. But labeling standards and supervision remained uneven, with some merchants reportedly using AI-generated storefront or food images to bypass platform checks.

The new regulations also require delivery platforms to verify and update their registered business addresses and qualifications at least once every six months and cross-check that information against official databases.

Violations by platforms or merchants can result in fines up to 200,000 yuan ($29,000), with higher penalties for platform executives.

Sun Huichuan, food safety director at the State Administration for Market Regulation, said the move is intended to make clear that platforms cannot “collect commissions without taking responsibility” or “pursue customer traffic without ensuring quality.”

Editor: Marianne Gunnarsson.

(Header image: VCG)