China Consumers' Association recently published the results of an investigation into urban consumer rights protection. Nearly 70 percent of respondents said that over the past year their legitimate rights and interests as consumers had been violated when either buying commodities or paying for receiving services. The most prominent items were food, health products, medicine, medical apparatuses and commodity housing.

More than 50 percent of respondents said that when they bought commodities or paid for service, the seller did not show relevant certificates unasked, and that when consumers requested sight of relevant certification, the seller did not provide it in time. In addition, 30 percent of respondents said that sellers often used format contracts in order to reduce or exempt themselves from responsibility.