How Does the Platform Verify Business Qualifications and Licenses?

Before commencing business operations, an enterprise must verify whether it holds legally valid qualifications and licenses. This is not merely a procedural formality-it is a fundamental step to uphold compliance. In 2026, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) will continue strengthening “random inspections with dual oversight” (i.e., “double random, one open”) supervision. Meanwhile, many regions have launched dynamic qualification-information comparison systems that automatically issue alerts for unlicensed operations or operations exceeding the licensed scope. Concurrently, the State Council’s “Opinions on Further Optimizing the Business Environment and Reducing Systemic Transaction Costs for Market Entities” explicitly mandates that, by the end of 2026, key operational licenses nationwide shall be interoperable and mutually recognized with business license data. This means verification is no longer solely an internal self-check by enterprises-it has become a routine, real-time collaborative action between regulatory authorities.

I. Official Verification Channels Platform-Based Verification Is Preferred

Currently, the most authoritative and nationally unified verification portal is the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (www.gsxt.gov.cn). Hosted by SAMR, this platform publicly displays basic enterprise information-including administrative licenses, administrative penalties, and results of random inspections-for all enterprises lawfully registered and incorporated. Its data are synchronized in real time with registration authorities.

Additionally, for sector-specific licenses, verification must also be conducted via the official websites of the respective industry regulators

1. Food Operation License Access the “Food Operation Licensing Database” of the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the “Licensing Inquiry” section on the official website of the provincial-level market regulation bureau where the enterprise is located.

2. Medical Device Operation Filing/License Use the National Medical Products Administration’s (NMPA) “Medical Device Production and Operation Licensing (Filing) Information System” (https//qxzh.nmpa.gov.cn).

3. Publication Operation License Verify through the “Government Services - Licensing Inquiry” portal on the official website of the provincial Press and Publication Bureau.

4. Internet Content Provider (ICP) Registration Check via the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) “ICP/IP Address/Domain Name Registration Management System” (https//beian.miit.gov.cn) by entering either the domain name or the entity’s legal name.

II. Key Information Items to Verify It Is Not Enough to Confirm Mere Existence-Status and Scope Must Be Checked

Upon receiving a scanned copy or screenshot of a license, confirming its mere “existence” is far from sufficient. The following items must be verified one by one

1. Whether the licensee’s full legal name matches exactly with that on the business license-including registered trade name, organizational form, and absence of typographical errors;

2. Whether the license’s validity period (start and end dates) covers the current operational cycle-and whether renewal has been overlooked despite approaching expiration;

3. Whether the permitted business model (e.g., “wholesale,” “retail,” or “online sales”) aligns precisely with the enterprise’s actual mode of operation;

4. Whether the licensed business address corresponds to either the registered address or the actual place of operation; note that establishing branch offices across administrative jurisdictions requires separate filing;

5. Whether the licensed scope comprehensively covers all actual business activities-for example, if a catering enterprise begins preparing cold dishes, the corresponding item must be added to its existing license.

III. Risks Associated with Non-Official Verification Channels

Some third-party commercial inquiry platforms (e.g., TianYanCha, QiChaCha) display license information, but their data sources rely on web scraping or voluntary submissions by enterprises-making them prone to delays, omissions, or even mislabeling. A case reported in 2026 by market regulation authorities in Jiangsu Province illustrates this risk an enterprise relied on a third-party platform showing “license valid,” failing to notice that its original license had already been revoked-resulting in its being penalized as operating without a license. Therefore, for critical scenarios such as contract signing, bidding participation, or supply-chain admission, verification must be based exclusively on real-time query results from official platforms. Screenshots of such queries must be retained, clearly annotated with the date and time of retrieval.

IV. Practical Recommendations for Common Issues

1. No information found? First confirm whether the license has been fully published-the system typically takes 3-5 working days to synchronize newly issued licenses.

2. Information shows “Revoked” or “Cancelled”? Immediately suspend related business activities, contact the issuing authority to clarify reasons, and initiate corrective procedures promptly.

3. Multi-location operations require multi-location verification For chain enterprises, each store’s license is issued independently-headquarters’ licensing cannot substitute for individual store-level qualifications.

4. Electronic licenses hold equal legal validity as paper versions Since 2022, electronic licenses have been universally adopted nationwide and recognized across regions; authenticity can be verified instantly by scanning the QR code.

The above outlines the mainstream online verification pathways and practical essentials for enterprise operational qualifications and licenses as of today-hoping this guidance proves helpful to you.