Measures of Tianjin Municipality for Promoting Development of the Exhibition Industry

• Document Number：Decree No. 41 of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government
• Area of Law： Government Affairs
• Level of Authority： Local Government Rules
• Date issued：10-01-2011
• Status： Effective
• Issuing Authority： Tianjin Municipality

The People's Government of Tianjin Municipality
Decree No. 41
The Measures of Tianjin Municipality for Promoting Development of the Exhibition Industry was adopted at the 76th Executive Meeting of the Municipal People's Government on September 26, 2011 and is hereby promulgated. It shall come into force as from December 1, 2011.
Huang Xingguo, Mayor
October 1, 2011
Measures of Tianjin Municipality for Promoting Development of the Exhibition Industry
chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with related laws and regulations and in keeping with the actual conditions of the Municipality in order to promote development of the exhibition industry of the Municipality, improve its development environment and normalize the behaviour of the organizer of exhibitions.
Article 2 The word "Exhibitions" mentioned in these Measures refers to the commercial activity in which the hosting unit (including the host and the undertaker) by means of solicitation invites exhibition participants to conduct information exchange, economic and trade promotion, and science and technology development at the fixed place and in the fixed period of time and through display of Articles, technologies, services or images.
The word "the host" mentioned in these Measures refers to the unit that is responsible for the formulation of scheme and plan of exhibitions, gives overall consideration to solicitation and hosting of exhibitions, makes all-round arrangement, organises related activities, and bears major responsibility for exhibitions.
The word "the undertaker" mentioned in these Measures refers to the unit that is responsible for such specific matters as solicitation and running of exhibitions, publicity and promotion, security, and communications and transportation, based on the contract signed with the host.
Article 3 These Measures shall apply to the operation, management and development of exhibitions within the administrative areas of the Municipality.
Article 4 In the development and normalisation of the exhibition industry the Municipality shall comply with the rules of market, advocate orderly competition, encourage self-discipline within the industry, exercise moderate supervision and regulation, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all parties concerned in the activity of exhibitions according to law.
Article 5 The development of the exhibition industry in the Municipality shall be incorporated into the national economic and social development plan and, based thereupon, medium- and long-term plans of development of the exhibition industry shall be formulated.
Article 6 The competent department of commercial affairs shall be responsible for making overall plans, comprehensive coordination, and normalized management of the exhibition industry.
Departments of development and reform, industry and commerce, public security, cityscape and landscaping, tourism, health, customs, quality supervision, intellectual property rights (IPRs), communications and ports, port services, quarantine and inspection, and so on shall do well related management work within the scope of their respective duties.
Article 7 The Municipal Association of Exhibitions Industry shall work out service standards of the industry, establish its assessment systems, organise data statistics of exhibitions, release relevant information, and guide its members in normalized operation.
Industrial organisations of various specialties shall play the role of self-discipline in the activities of using specialized information resources, and organising and hosting specialized exhibitions.
Article 8 The Municipality shall actively promote cooperation and development of the exhibition industry and tourism.
Industrial organisations of the exhibition industry and tourism shall establish cooperative mechanisms and actively promote cooperation among enterprises.
chapter II Solicitation and Hosting of Exhibitions
Article 9 Before January and June every year, the host shall report information on exhibitions planned to be held in the first half and the latter half of the year to the Municipal Association of Exhibitions Industry which shall release the information to society and circular a notice of the information at the same time to relevant departments of industry and commerce, public security, IPRs, and so on.
Article 10 The host that intends to run an exhibition shall have the qualification of independent legal person, can bear corresponding civil liability, and shall have the fund commensurate with the size of the exhibition,
Where two units co-host an exhibition one of them at least shall meet the requirements of the provisions in the preceding paragraph.
Article 11 The unit that intends to undertake an exhibition shall perform its duty according to the contract signed with the host. Without the consent of the host, the undertaker shall not commission other units to undertake the job.
Article 12 Relevant units or persons may acquired from Industry the following information:
(1) Related laws, rules, regulations and policies of the exhibition industry;
(2) The present state of development and the service environment of the exhibition industry of the Municipality;
(3) Introduction to important exhibitions;
(4) The general trend of projects of exhibitions;
(5) Information on the credit of units operating in the exhibition industry; and
(6) Other information on the exhibition industry which can be made public according to law.
Article 13 Before an exhibition opens, the host shall apply to the public security organ according to the provisions of the state and the Municipality for a security permit for large-scale mass activities, and pass fire prevention security check. Where it is necessary to hang publicity Articles or install various kinds of advertisements temporarily outdoors, he shall go through the formalities of obtaining administrative licensing at the Municipal department of cityscape and landscaping.
Where large-scale exhibitions are likely to impact the traffic of the surrounding areas, the host before exhibitions open shall report to the traffic control department and other departments related information of time, place, size, and so on of exhibitions. The relevant departments shall provide guidance and service in time.
Where international exhibitions of economy and technique, science and technology, publishing, culture, broadcast, film and television, education, and others are to be held, reports shall be sent to relevant departments for examination and approval in accordance with the provisions of laws, rules and regulations.
Article 14 Where international or large-scale exhibitions are held and information thereof is reported in accordance with the provision of Article 9 of these Measures, the competent department of commercial affairs shall provide for them guidance and service in terms of licensing, examination and approval, and report.
Article 15 The information on solicitation of exhibitions released by the hosting unit should be objective and real, and no false and misleading publicity shall be made.
When information on solicitation of exhibitions is released, the contents of exhibitions including the name, theme, time, place and price shall not be altered without justifiable reasons; where it is absolutely necessary to make alterations with justifiable reasons,exhibition participants, related departments and persons shall be timely informed thereof.
Where information on solicitation of exhibitions which are subject to licensing, examination and approval, and report according to the provision of Article 13 of these Measures is altered, the hosting unit shall make alterations with regard to licensing, examination and approval, and report
Article 16 The exhibition venue shall meet the requirements of health, fire prevention and security, and warning for safety and indicators of guidance shall be set up in conspicuous places.
In exhibition areas where valuable Articles are exhibited including gold, silver, jewellery, diamond, clock and watch, calligraphic work and painting, and cultural relics (reaching Grade III or above in accordance with the Standards of Grading Objects of Cultural Relics, Decree No. 19 of the Ministry of Culture), single-person passages of entry and exit and exhibition booths and chests meeting the requirements of prevention and protection should be set up, besides meeting the requirements of the provision in the preceding paragraph,
The owner of the exhibition venue shall periodically maintain the venue and equipment, improve its services, charge fees rationally, establish systems for security of the venue, equip professional security personnel, and guide the hosting unit and exhibition participants in doing a good job of security and fire prevention.
Article 17 The exhibition hosting unit and participants shall sign written contracts and make clear the rights and duties of both parties and related contents concerning protection of IPRs during exhibitions.
The Municipal Association of Exhibitions Industry may formulate demonstration texts of exhibition contracts according to relevant provisions, and guide exhibition hosts and participants in using them.
Article 18 Before an exhibition opens, the host shall examine the IPRs of exhibition items, exhibited Articles, exhibition boards, booths and related publicity materials, and exhibition participants shall give cooperation and provide related certificates of rights. Where certificates of rights cannot be provided, no display and publicity are allowed in the name of related IPRs.
The competent department of IPRs that firmly believes infringement upon IPRs on the part of exhibition participants is tenable shall handle it according to law.
Article 19 The rigging up of exhibition booths and the use of exhibited items and apparatus shall meet the requirements of work safety and fire prevention. Where hidden dangers exist, the hosting unit and the owner of exhibition venues should demand exhibition participants to make rectifications; if exhibition participants refuse to do so, the hosting unit and the owner of exhibition venues shall timely report thereof to the departments of commercial affairs, safety supervision, public security, and so on.
Article 20 Exhibition participants should guarantee the quality and safety of exhibited Articles. Where exhibited Articles cause damages to the rights and interests of consumers, compensation shall be made in accordance with the law.
Article 21 The hosting unit shall establish an office for handling complaints on the spot of the exhibition venue, publicise the hotline for complaints and tip-offs, and accept and handle related complaints. Departments of industry and commerce, IPRs and others may send personnel to station in the exhibition venue and handle complaints.
For large-scale exhibitions, departments of industry and commerce, IPRs and others should send personnel to station in the exhibition venue to provide services. The hosting unit shall provide necessary working conditions for the related departments.
Article 22 The competent department of commercial affairs shall establish a credit record for operators of the exhibition industry, and encourage and supervise them in honest operation.
Article 23 Departments of commercial affairs, industry and commerce, public security, cityscape and landscaping, health, quality supervision, IPRs, copyrights and others shall increase tours of inspection over the activities of exhibitions, maintain proper order, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all parties of exhibitions.
Government departments and other organisations are prohibited to impose unjustifiable financial levies or collect fees arbitrarily during exhibitions. .
chapter III Encouragement and Support
Article 24 The Municipal People's Government shall give financial aid and encouragement to the following events:
(1) Development of exhibition projects, enterprises, exhibition venues, and related supporting service institutions;
(2) Training and introduction of exhibition-oriented people; and
(3) Publicity for exhibitions, investment attraction, and promotion and introduction.
Article 25 The Municipal, district and county people's governments shall give support to the following activities:
(1) Hosting international, national or large-scale exhibitions;
(2) Setting up enterprise headquarters or regional headquarters of exhibitions;
(3) Investment in construction of venues of large-scale exhibitions; and
(4) Other activities that accord with the Municipal policies on the exhibition industry.
Article 26 The Municipal competent department of commercial affairs shall formulate a catalogue for guidance of development of the exhibition industry, and identify the Municipal development focus and guidance orientation of the exhibition industry.
Article 27 Well-known exhibition enterprises at home and abroad are encouraged to host hosting exhibitions in the Municipality.
Brand exhibitions are encouraged to register for trademark protection, and to declare renowned trademarks and famous trademarks.
Article 29 Various major investors and institutions at home and abroad are encouraged to establish exhibition enterprises in the Municipality by means of independent fund, cooperative fund, cooperation, share purchase, and other forms.
Article 30 Exhibition projects and exhibition enterprises are encouraged to join the International Association of the Exhibition Industry and to obtain international certifications. Financial aid for the certification fees and membership dues shall be given to exhibition projects and exhibition enterprises that obtain related certifications from the International Association of the Exhibition Industry.
Article 31 Various major investors and institutions at home and abroad are encouraged to invest in the construction of exhibition venues.
Professional management companies and exhibition enterprises are encouraged to take part in the operation of exhibition venues.
The prices of water, electricity, gas and heat used in industries shall be applied to exhibition venues.
Article 32 High-calibre professionals of exhibitions satisfying the needs of the Municipality shall enjoy preferential policies on residential permit, children's schooling, and so on in accordance with relevant provisions of the Municipality.
Article 33 It is encouraged to develop convention services, information technology services of exhibitions, rigging up of exhibition booths, advertisements, planning, logistics and other supporting service institutions of exhibitions, and the Municipal supporting service institutions of exhibitions that are given emphasis for development shall be given support.
chapter IV Legal Liabilities
Article 34 Where the host that fails to meet the requirements hosts an exhibition in violation of the provision of Article 10 of these Measures, the competent department of commercial affairs shall order it to make corrections, and may impose a fine of not more than 30,000 yuan thereupon.
Article 35 Where the host, in violation of provisions of Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 3 of Article 13 of these Measures, opens an exhibition without permit, examination and approval of relevant departments, these relevant departments may punish it according to law.
Article 36 Where the undertaker, in violation of the provision of Paragraph 1 of Article 15 of these Measures, publicises false and misleading information on solicitation of exhibitions, the administrative department of industry and commerce may punish it pursuant to law.
Article 37 Where the undertaker fails to establish an office for handling complaints on the spot of the exhibition venue in violation of the provision of Paragraph 1 of Article 21 of these Measures, the competent department of commercial affairs shall order it to make corrections, and may impose a fine of not more than 10,000 yuan thereupon.
Article 38 Where exhibition participants, in violation of the provision of Article 19 of these Measures, ignore hidden dangers exist in rigging up of exhibition booths and the use of exhibited items and apparatus, and refuse to make rectifications, the department of safety supervision or the public security organ shall punish them according to law.
Article 39 If the competent department of commercial affairs finds that operators of the exhibition industry commit acts of law violation in the process of solicitation and running of exhibitions which should be handled by relevant departments, the competent department of commercial affairs should ask relevant departments to handle them.
The competent department of commercial affairs shall put the above facts into the credit record of operators of the exhibition industry.
chapter V Supplementary Provisions
Article 40 For the purpose of these Measures, a large-scale exhibition refers to an exhibition whose floor space is more than 10,000 square metres, or a standard booth is more than 500.
Article 41 These Measures shall come into force as from December 1, 2011.