Beijing Municipality, Administration of Grade Rating of Food and Beverage Enterprises Measures

Issued: May 17 2001
Effective: as of date of issue
Interpreting Authority: Municipal administrative department in charge of commodity distribution
Applicability: For the purposes of the Measures, a "food and beverage enterprise" is an enterprise that provides meals prepared on the spot and sells other foods and beverages for customer consumption on its premises (Article 2).

Main contents: The Measures provide that food and beverage enterprises shall be rated as superior grade, first grade and second grade and that the rating shall be given by various levels of administrative departments in charge of commodity distribution (Article 3). Criteria of rating in respect of each grade are set out in details in the Measures. To be rated superior grade, for example, a restaurant must have: a service area no less than 600 square metres; computerized management; appropriate parking facilities; fully equipped rest rooms (with hand dryers); a banquet hall or multi-function room capable of accommodating 100 persons; chefs and service persons with professional qualifications; ability of providing over 12 "house-special" showcase dishes or pastries; menus in Chinese and at least one foreign language; and credit card payment facilities (Section One, Part Two). District or county level departments in charge of commodity distribution shall carry out the preliminary examination and approval applications for superior and first grade ratings and final approvals shall be carried out by the municipal department in charge of commodity distribution; applications for second grade ratings shall be examined and approved by a district or county level department in charge of commodity distribution (Article 21). Grade ratings are subject to annual review (Article 33).
Related legislation: Beijing Municipality, Administration of the Food and Beverage Industry, Repair Industry and Hotel Industry Measures
Repealed legislation: Beijing Superior Grade Restaurant Standards, Aug 5 1996; Beijing First Grade Restaurant Standards, Aug 5 1996 and Beijing Second Grade Restaurant Standards, Aug 5 1996