China to Close Audio-video Products Retail BusinessesChina is going to close down all audio-video products retail businesses by the yearend.Authoritative person with the Ministry of Culture told that more than 200 large audio-video products retailers have become a "paradise" engaging in retail sale and smuggling pirated audio-video products. According to statistics, since 1990s, more than 200 large audio-video products retailers have been set up in more than 26 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities across China. A fact to be noted is that the retailers for the most part have retail business conducted. Due to insufficient supply of genuine audio-video products, bad management and excessive competition, many retailers, in order to seek profits, sell pirated, smuggle obscene audio-video products. Many of them escape and even defy inspection or supervision by related authoritative departments. Some rioting incidents had even occurred during inspection and moreover, due to local protectionism, these had even been protected. Since 1999, the Ministry of Culture has decided to close down the 200 retailers. Related departments in different cities also drafted practical plans. Up to this date as of July, over 120 such retail businesses have been shut down, but there are still 80 that have not yet been closed in more than 40 cities. According to a resolution by the Ministry of Culture and that of the State Council, the remained 80 audio-video retail businesses will be totally closed by December 31 this year. By then, retail sale and smuggling of pirated audio-video products will be wholly solved. By PD Online staff member Li Yan |
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