The country's first local regulation on the express delivery industry will take effect in March 2022

The Regulations on the promotion of express delivery industry in Zhejiang Province (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) were reviewed and adopted at the 31st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th provincial People's Congress on September 29, and will come into force in March next year, according to the official website of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government. According to the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress Standing Committee, this is the country's first local express industry regulations.

It is reported that as a big Internet province, Zhejiang express industry development ranks the forefront of the country. In 2020, the business volume of express delivery in the province reached 17.95 billion pieces, an increase of 35.3% over the previous year, supporting the online retail transaction volume of physical commodities in the province to exceed 2.2 trillion yuan, and employing nearly 300,000 people.

The regulation for the first time defines the legal definition of electric tricycles for express delivery, allowing them to drive in non-motorized lanes if they meet specified conditions, and regulating the liability of express delivery operators for traffic accidents, Zhejiang Daily reported.

The Regulations make provisions on the quality of express delivery services and the protection of consumers' rights and interests, including clarifying who is responsible for the loss and damage of express delivery items and the compensation standard, and improving the mechanism of clarifying the exemption from liability for complaints made by Courier operators.

At the same time, there is a separate chapter on the protection of the rights and interests of "Courier brothers". The Regulations clarify from the legal level that express delivery enterprises should participate in social security according to law, and establish a reasonable assessment, reward and punishment system.

In addition, the Regulations clarify the development factors of the express industry in terms of spatial layout, infrastructure construction, industrial integration and other aspects of the guarantee, from large distribution and distribution center land to residential express terminal equipment and site construction, from the urban layout to the construction of rural delivery logistics system have made legal provisions.

Ding Zunian, chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Provincial People's Congress, said: "The legislation of the express industry not only elevates the industry's development experience into regulations, but also effectively improves the standard and scientific rule of law, better responds to the people's needs for a better life, and helps Zhejiang develop high-quality development and build a common prosperity demonstration zone."