Breaking | China to probe food delivery platforms under anti-monopoly law

China has launched an investigation and market competition assessment for its food delivery platforms, the State Council announced on Friday.

“Recently, issues such as excessive subsidies, price wars and control over traffic flow in the online food delivery platform service industry have become prominent,” according to a statement issued by the council, China’s cabinet.

The assessment will be conducted through on-site inspections, in-person interviews and questionnaires to gain a detailed understanding of competition among food-delivery platforms, the statement said, in addition to soliciting views from operators, workers and consumers.

Authorities will also “comprehensively examine market conditions, carry out analysis, transmit regulatory pressure and propose corrective measures”, according to the statement.

The council urged food-delivery platforms to actively cooperate with the probe, strictly fulfill their responsibility for antitrust compliance, compete fairly in the market and promote the “innovative and healthy development” of the sector.