The Industrial and Commercial Bureau is the government department in charge of market supervision and administrative law enforcement. On March 20 18, at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress, according to the institutional reform plan of the State Council, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the China Food and Drug Administration were no longer retained, and the State Administration of Market Supervision was established.

Business license is a certificate issued by the administrative department for industry and commerce to industrial and commercial enterprises and individual operators to engage in certain production and business activities. Its format shall be uniformly stipulated by the State Administration of Market Supervision. Without a business license, industrial and commercial enterprises or individual operators are not allowed to start business, engrave official seals, sign contracts, register trademarks or advertise, and banks are not allowed to open accounts.