Provisions for the Administration of Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprises
外商投资广告企业管理规定
The revised Provisions delegate some of the approval power concerning the establishment of foreign-invested advertising enterprises to provincial-level government departments.
(Promulgated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Commerce on September 22 2008 and effective as of October 1 2008.)
(国家工商行政管理总局、商务部于二零零八年九月二十二日公布，自二零零八年十月一日起施行。)
Order of the SAIC and MOFCOM No.35
Article 1: These Provisions have been formulated pursuant to laws and administrative regulations related to the administration of foreign investment and advertising in order to strengthen the administration of foreign-invested advertising enterprises and promote the healthy development of the advertising industry.
工商行政管理局、商务部令第35号
Article 2: For the purposes of these Provisions, the term “foreign-invested advertising enterprises” means Sino-foreign equity joint ventures, Sino-foreign cooperative joint ventures (here and hereinafter Sino-foreign equity joint ventures and Sino-foreign cooperative joint ventures in these Provisions shall be jointly called “Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Ventures”) and wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprises.
Article 3: In addition to complying with these Provisions, establishment of foreign-invested advertising enterprises must also comply with relevant laws, regulations and rules such as the PRC Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law, PRC Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Law, PRC Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law, PRC Advertising Law and Regulations for the Administration of Advertising.
第一条 为了加强外商投资广告企业的管理，促进广告业健康发展,根据有关外商投资管理和广告管理的法律、行政法规，制定本规定。
Article 4: The project proposals and feasibility study reports of foreign-invested advertising enterprises shall be examined by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administrations for industry and commerce. The contracts and articles of association of foreign-invested advertising enterprises shall be subject to the examination and approval of provincial-level departments in charge of commerce.
Article 5: Subject to approval, foreign-invested advertising enterprises that comply with stipulated conditions may engage in the design, production and publication of, as well as agency services for, domestic and foreign advertisements. Their specific business scopes shall be verified by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administrations for industry and commerce in accordance with the law.
第二条 本规定所称外商投资广告企业，是指依法经营广告业务的中外合资经营企业、中外合作经营企业（中外合资经营企业、中外合作经营企业本规定合称为中外合营广告企业，以下同），以及外资广告企业。
Article 6: Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Ventures shall be established in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The principal Chinese party shall submit the documents specified in Article 12 to the administration for industry and commerce in the locality with foreign-invested enterprise registration approval right. Such administration authority shall provide a preliminary examination opinion that will be submitted for examination to the provincial-level administration for industry and commerce authorised by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or that will be verified by an administration for industry and commerce at the level of province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government or city with independent development plans and then submitted for examination to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
第三条 设立外商投资广告企业，除必须遵守本规定外，还应当遵守《中华人民共和国中外合资经营企业法》、《中华人民共和国中外合作经营企业法》、《中华人民共和国外资企业法》、《中华人民共和国广告法》、《广告管理条例》等有关法律、法规、规章。
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce shall make a decision on whether or not to grant approval within 20 days of receipt of all the submitted documents.
(2) After the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce has issued a Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise, the principal Chinese party shall submit the documents specified in Article 13 to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce in the locality of the proposed enterprise and, following examination and approval by the provincial-level department in charge of commerce, be issued with a Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate; if it is not granted approval, the reasons therefor shall be explained in writing.
第四条 外商投资广告企业的项目建议书及可行性研究报告，由国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局审定。外商投资广告企业的合同和章程，由省级商务主管部门审查批准。
(3) The principal Chinese party shall, in accordance with relevant provisions on enterprise registration, complete enterprise registration formalities with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or the local administration for industry and commerce with foreign-invested enterprise registration approval right on the strength of the Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce, the Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate issued by the provincial-level department in charge of commerce and other documents specified in laws and regulations.
Article 7: Wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprises shall be established in accordance with the following procedures:
第五条 外商投资广告企业符合规定条件，经批准可以经营设计、制作、发布、代理国内外各类广告业务，其具体经营范围，由国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局依法予以核定。
(1) The foreign investor(s) shall submit the documents specified in Article 14 to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce.
The State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce shall make a decision on whether or not to grant approval within 20 days of receipt of all the submitted documents.
第六条 设立中外合营广告企业，按下列程序办理:
(2) After the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce has issued a Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise, the foreign investor(s) shall submit the documents specified in Article 15 to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce in the locality of the proposed enterprise. The provincial-level department in charge of commerce shall make a decision on whether or not to grant approval within 20 days of receipt of all the submitted documents and, if it approves after examination, issue a Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate.
(3) The foreign investor(s) shall, in accordance with relevant provisions on enterprise registration, apply to complete enterprise registration formalities with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or the local administration for industry and commerce with the authority to approve and register foreign-invested enterprises on the strength of the Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce, the Foreign-invested Enterprise Approval Certificate issued by the provincial-level department in charge of commerce and other documents specified in laws and regulations.
（一） 由中方主要合营者，向其所在地有外商投资企业核准登记权的工商行政管理局呈报第十二条规定的文件，由其提出初审意见，报国家工商行政管理总局授权的省级工商行政管理局审定，或经省、自治区、直辖市及计划单列市工商行政管理局核转，报国家工商行政管理总局审定。
Article 8: Application for establishment of a branch or sub-branch of a foreign-invested advertising enterprise shall be handled in accordance with the following procedures:
(1) The foreign-invested advertising enterprise shall submit the documents specified in Article 16 respectively to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce and provincial-level administration for industry and commerce in the locality.
国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局自收到全部呈报文件二十日内，作出同意或不同意的决定。
(2) After the provincial-level department in charge of commerce in the locality has sought the opinion of the administration for industry and commerce at the same level, it shall decide whether or not to grant approval. If it decides to grant approval, the approval documents shall simultaneously be copied to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce and provincial-level administration for industry and commerce at the place of establishment; if it does not grant approval, it shall explain the reasons therefor in writing.
(3) The foreign-invested advertising enterprise shall complete the formalities for registration of the branch or sub-branch with the administration for industry and commerce with foreign-invested enterprise registration approval right at the place where the branch or sub-branch is being established on the strength of the approval documents for establishing a branch or sub-branch and other documents specified in laws and regulations.
（二） 国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局颁发 《外商投资广告企业项目审定意见书》后，由中方主要合营者向拟设立企业所在地省级商务主管部门呈报第十三条规定的文件，经省级商务主管部门审查批准的，颁发《外商投资企业批准证书》；不予批准的，书面说明理由。
Article 9: In addition to complying with the conditions of relevant laws and regulations, establishment of Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Ventures shall also meet the following conditions:
(1) each of the parties to the joint venture is an enterprise that engages in an advertising business;
（三） 中方主要合营者持国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局颁发的《外商投资广告企业项目审定意见书》、省级商务主管部门颁发的《外商投资企业批准证书》及法律、法规规定的其它文件，按企业登记注册的有关规定，向国家工商行政管理总局或有外商投资企业核准登记权的地方工商行政管理局办理企业登记注册手续。
(2) each of the parties to the joint venture must have been established and have operated for at least two years; and
(3) it has achieved results in advertising.
第七条 设立外资广告企业，按下列程序办理：
Article 10: In addition to complying with the conditions of relevant laws and regulations, establishment of wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprises shall also meet the following conditions:
(1) the investor(s) is/are enterprise(s) whose main business is advertising; and
（一） 由外国投资者，向国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局呈报第十四条规定的文件。
(2) the investor(s) should have been established and have operated for at least three years.
Article 11: Foreign-invested advertising enterprises that apply to establish a branch or sub-branch shall meet the following conditions:
国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局自收到全部呈报文件二十日内，作出同意或不同意的决定。
(1) its registered capital has been paid up in full; and
(2) its annual advertising turnover is not lower than Rmb20 million.
（二） 国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局颁发 《外商投资广告企业项目审定意见书》后，由外国投资者向拟设立企业所在地省级商务主管部门呈报第十五条规定的文件。省级商务主管部门自收到全部呈报文件二十日内，作出同意或不同意的决定；经审查批准的，颁发《外商投资企业批准证书》。
Article 12: To apply to establish a Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Venture, the principal Chinese party shall submit the following documents to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce pursuant to the procedures specified in Article 6.
(1) an application for establishing a Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Venture;
（三） 外国投资者持国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局颁发的《外商投资广告企业项目审定意见书》和省级商务主管部门颁发的《外商投资企业批准证书》及法律、法规规定的其它文件，按企业登记注册的有关规定，向国家工商行政管理总局或有外商投资企业核准登记权的地方工商行政管理局申请办理企业登记注册手续。
(2) an enterprise name pre-approval notice;
(3) a resolution of a shareholders' meeting (board meeting) of the parties;
第八条 外商投资广告企业申请设立分支机构，按下列程序办理：
(4) a project proposal for establishing a Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Venture and a feasibility study report jointly prepared by each party to the joint venture;
(5) the registration certificates for each party to the joint venture;
（一） 由外商投资广告企业分别向其所在地省级商务主管部门、省级工商行政管理局呈报第十六条规定的文件。
(6) proof of creditworthiness of each party to the joint venture;
(7) an advertising management system; and
（二） 所在地省级商务主管部门在征求同级工商行政管理局意见后，决定批准或不批准。决定批准的，同时将批准文件抄送设立地省级商务主管部门及省级工商行政管理局；不予批准的，书面说明理由。
(8) the preliminary examination opinion of the local administration for industry and commerce.
Article 13: To apply to establish a Sino-foreign Advertising Joint Venture, the following documents shall be submitted to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce pursuant to the procedures stipulated in Article 6:
（三） 外商投资广告企业持设立分支机构的批准文件及法律、法规规定的其它文件到其分支机构设立地有外商投资企业核准登记权的工商行政管理局办理分支机构登记注册手续。
(1) the Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce;
(2) the contract and articles of association for establishing a foreign-invested advertising enterprise;
第九条 设立中外合营广告企业，除符合有关法律、法规规定的条件外，还应具备以下条件：
(3) a project feasibility study report;
(4) the registration certificates of each party to the joint venture;
（一） 合营各方应是经营广告业务的企业；
(5) proof of creditworthiness of each party to the joint venture;
(6) an enterprise name pre-approval notice;
（二） 合营各方须成立并运营二年以上；
(7) the list of names of the board of directors of the joint venture and the director appointment letters from each party; and
(8) the preliminary examination opinion of the local department in charge of commerce.
（三） 有广告经营业绩。
Article 14: To apply to establish a wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprise, the investor(s) shall submit the following documents to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce pursuant to the procedures stipulated in Article 7:
(1) an application for establishing a wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprise;
第十条 设立外资广告企业，除符合有关法律、法规规定的条件外，还应具备以下条件：
(2) a resolution of a shareholders' meeting (board meeting) of the investor(s);
(3) a project proposal and feasibility study report prepared by the investor(s);
（一） 投资方应是以经营广告业务为主的企业；
(4) the registration certificate(s) of the investor(s);
(5) proof of creditworthiness of the investor(s); and
（二） 投资方应成立并运营三年以上。
(6) an enterprise name pre-approval notice.
Article 15: To apply to establish a wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprise, the foreign investor(s) shall submit the following documents to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce pursuant to the procedures stipulated in Article 7:
第十一条 申请设立分支机构的外商投资广告企业，应具备以下条件：
(1) an application for establishing a foreign-invested advertising enterprise;
(2) a Project Examination Opinion on the Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprise issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce or its authorised provincial-level administration for industry and commerce;
（一） 注册资本全部缴清；
(3) a project proposal and feasibility study report prepared by investor(s);
(4) the registration certificate(s) of the investor(s);
（二） 年广告营业额不低于2000万元人民币。
(5) proof of creditworthiness of the investor(s); and
(6) articles of association for the establishment of a wholly foreign-owned advertising enterprise.
第十二条 申请设立中外合营广告企业，由中方主要合营者按第六条规定的程序，向国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局报送下列文件：
Article 16: To apply to establish a branch or sub-branch, a foreign-invested advertising enterprise shall submit the following documents to the provincial-level department in charge of commerce and the administration for industry and commerce at the same level:
(1) an application for establishing a branch or sub-branch of a foreign-invested advertising enterprise;
（一） 设立中外合营广告企业的申请书；
(2) a resolution of the board of directors;
(3) an annual audit report for advertising business;
（二） 企业名称预先核准通知书；
(4) the enterprise business licence;
(5) proof of the place of business; and
（三） 合营者股东会（董事会）决议；
(6) an enterprise capital verification report.
Article 17: After a foreign-invested advertising enterprise has been established, where one of the following circumstances arises, it shall report for separate approval in line with the procedures stipulated in Articles 6 and 7 hereof, and shall carry out changes in its enterprise registration:
（四） 设立中外合营广告企业的项目建议书及合营各方共同编制的可行性研究报告；
(1) a change in a party to the joint venture or an assignment of equity interest;
(2) a change in the scope of advertising business; or
（五） 合营各方的登记注册证明；
(3) a change in the registered capital.
Article 18: Foreign investors investing in and establishing an advertising enterprise may entrust an intermediary service organisation with appropriate qualifications to carry out the application and submission procedures on their behalf.
（六） 合营各方的资信证明；
Article 19: All documents submitted pursuant to these Provisions shall be written in Chinese.
Article 20: Investment in the advertising business through the merger or acquisition of a domestic advertising enterprise shall be handled in accordance with the provisions related to mergers and acquisitions of domestic enterprises by foreign investors and these Provisions.
（七） 广告管理制度；
Article 21: Investing in and establishment of advertising enterprises in the mainland by investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions shall, mutatis mutandis, be handled in accordance with these Provisions.
Article 22: Application for including advertising business in the scope of business of foreign-invested enterprises shall, mutatis mutandis, be handled in accordance with these Provisions.
（八） 地方工商行政管理局的初审意见。
Article 23: The State Administration for Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Commerce shall be responsible for the interpretation of these Provisions.
Article 24: These Provisions shall be effective as of October 1 2008. The Provisions for the Administration of Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprises promulgated by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and Ministry of Commerce with Order No.8 on March 2 2004 shall simultaneously become void.
第十三条 申请设立中外合营广告企业，应按第六条规定的程序，向省级商务主管部门报送下列文件：
Appendix:
In order to promote closer economic and trade ties between Hong Kong or Macao and the mainland and encourage Hong Kong service suppliers and Macao service suppliers to invest in and establish advertising enterprises in the mainland, we hereby set forth the following supplementary provisions in respect of Hong Kong and Macao investors investing in the advertising business pursuant to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement approved by the State Council.
（一） 国家工商行政管理总局或其授权的省级工商行政管理局颁发的《外商投资广告企业项目审定意见书》；
1. From January 1 2004, Hong Kong service suppliers and Macao service suppliers are permitted to establish wholly owned advertising companies in the mainland.
2. Hong Kong service suppliers and Macao service suppliers shall comply with the definitions of Service Suppliers and relevant stipulated requirements in the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement respectively.
（二） 设立外商投资广告企业的合同、章程；
3. Hong Kong service suppliers and Macao service suppliers shall be enterprise legal persons engaging in the advertising business (including where it is not the main business).
4. Other provisions on investment in the advertising business in the mainland by Hong Kong service suppliers and Macao service suppliers shall still be handled in accordance with these Provisions.
（三） 项目可行性研究报告；
clp reference:5500/08.09.22prc reference:工商行政管理局、商务部令第35号promulgated:2008-09-22effective:2008-10-01
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