China’s New Food Delivery Rules Target ‘Ghost Kitchens’
China’s sweeping new regulations for online food delivery took effect on June 1, 2026, requiring unprecedented transparency from the country’s 630 million food delivery users’ favorite restaurants. The rules, issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in February, target the pervasive problem of “ghost kitchens” — unlicensed vendors operating with fake addresses and fabricated credentials on platforms like Meituan and Ele.me.
The Ghost Kitchen Problem
“Ghost kitchens” have been a persistent headache for China’s booming food delivery industry, now projected to exceed 1.4 trillion yuan (~$193 billion) and accounting for roughly 24% of the country’s catering revenue, according to Legal Daily. SAMR Catering Food Department Director Yu Lu described the issue bluntly: “The existence of ‘ghost kitchens’ has seriously disrupted the normal market order of the food delivery industry and damaged the public’s confidence in catering food safety.”
As Xinhua News reported, the regulations aim to move the industry from “paper compliance” to “visible reality” — ensuring that what consumers order is what they actually receive.
Three Pillars of Transparency
The regulations, formally titled the “Regulations on the Supervision and Management of the Implementation of Food Safety Responsibilities by Online Catering Service Providers,” focus on three core areas: store information, food processing, and delivery standards.
Store Information: Online store names must now match physical storefront signage, and actual business addresses must match those on business licenses. Delivery-only merchants — those without dine-in service — must prominently display a “No Dine-in” label on their main page. Platforms are required to conduct on-site verification of merchant licenses and cross-check data with government databases, with re-verification required every six months.
Processing Transparency: Merchants can no longer prepare food outside designated processing areas or subcontract orders to other operators. The regulations strongly encourage “Internet + Transparent Kitchen” systems, where live video feeds of food preparation are publicly displayed. Video recordings must be retained for at least 14 days.
Delivery Standards: All food must be sealed in tamper-evident packaging that cannot be restored after opening. Delivery personnel must use safe, sanitary containers, and special temperature requirements for hot, cold, and frozen items must be maintained throughout delivery.
Platform Response
Major delivery platforms have moved quickly to comply. Meituan, the market leader, announced it “attaches great importance to, seriously studies, and resolutely implements the new regulations,” as stated in its official announcement. The company has upgraded its “Safe Delivery” governance system with ten major measures, including AI-powered inspections through its “Star Eyes” system, which now conducts over 14 million daily inspections of kitchen environments.
On May 28, regulators in Beijing and Shanghai signed a cross-regional collaboration agreement targeting three major platforms: Meituan (registered in Beijing), Taobao Flash Purchase (Shanghai), and JD Delivery (Shanghai). The agreement establishes data sharing, joint enforcement, and coordinated governance mechanisms.
Regulatory Innovation and Enforcement
The regulations represent a significant shift from “formal review” to “substantive review” of merchant qualifications. SAMR Food Safety Director Sun Huichuan explained that the rules make “a series of institutional designs from three core dimensions: business identity, business model, and processing procedures,” allowing consumers to “order clearly and eat with confidence.”
Provincial authorities are also taking action. Yunnan’s Market Regulation Bureau issued a detailed safety reminder on May 29, requiring platforms to act as “gatekeepers” with dedicated food safety directors and managers, and mandating order record retention for at least three years.
What This Means for Consumers
For China’s 630 million online food delivery users, the changes are tangible. Consumers can now verify whether a restaurant has a physical dine-in space, view live kitchen feeds through “Transparent Kitchen” programs, and trust that their food arrives in tamper-evident packaging. The “No Dine-in” label helps customers make informed choices about food safety risks.
Challenges Ahead
While the regulatory framework is comprehensive, questions remain about enforcement across China’s vast and diverse food delivery ecosystem. Smaller cities and rural areas may face challenges in implementing the new standards, and smaller independent platforms may struggle with compliance costs. The effectiveness of the six-month re-verification cycle in catching rapidly changing merchant situations will also be tested in practice.
As China continues to tighten food safety standards under President Xi Jinping’s “four strictest” framework — strictest standards, supervision, punishment, and accountability — the new delivery regulations mark a significant step toward making online food ordering safer and more transparent for hundreds of millions of consumers.