China imposes upper-limit fine on community group-buying firm

BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top market watchdog Thursday imposed a maximum-level fine on the operator of community group-buying platform Nice Tuan over improper pricing that disrupted the market order.

The State Administration for Market Regulation required the company to pay a fine of 1.5 million yuan (about 234,265 U.S. dollars) and stop its business for three days in Jiangsu Province and implement rectifications.

According to the regulator, the platform dumped products at prices below cost to squeeze out competitors, disrupting the normal order of production and operation and damaging the legitimate rights and interests of other market players.

It also harmed the interests of consumers by luring them with false or misleading pricing practices, said the administration.

In March, the administration imposed administrative penalties on five leading community group-buying platforms, including Nice Tuan, for improper pricing. The platform promised to implement rectifications actively. Unfair pricing, however, still exists in some of its business regions.

The administration also held a meeting for relevant enterprises on Thursday, reminding them to self-examine and operate in compliance with laws and regulations.