PRC Regulations on Management of Publications Document Date: 31 Dec 2001 Sourceline: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service Language: Chinese [FBIS Translated Text] Beijing, 31 Dec (Xinhua) -- Regulations on Management of Publications Chapter I. General Rules [subhead] Article 1. These regulations are formulated in accordance with the constitution, in order to strengthen management of publications, to develop and promote socialist publishing undertakings with Chinese characteristics, to guarantee citizens' freedom to exercise the right to publication according to the law, and to facilitate the building of socialist spiritual and material civilization. Article 2. These regulations apply to publication activities within the PRC territory. Publication activities referred to in these regulations include the publishing, printing or reproduction, imports, and distribution of publications. Publications referred to in these regulations are newspapers, periodicals, books, audio and video products, and electronic publications. Article 3. Publishing undertakings must adhere to the orientation of serving the people and serving socialism; persist in taking Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guide; disseminate and gather science, technology, and general knowledge, which is conducive to the enhancement of national quality, as well as economic and social advancement; carry forward splendid national culture; facilitate international cultural exchanges; and enrich and improve the people's spiritual life. Article 4. In carrying out publication activities, it is necessary to give first priority to the integration of social benefit with economic efficiency. Article 5. People's governments at all levels should guarantee citizens' freedom to exercise the right of publishing according to the law. When exercising freedom of the right of publishing, citizens must abide by the constitution and laws; and must not oppose the basic principles laid in the constitution and must not undermine the interests of the state, society, and collectives, as well as other citizens' lawful freedoms and rights. Article 6. The State Council's publications administrative department is in charge of supervision and management of publication activities throughout the country. Other relevant departments under the State Council are responsible for supervision and management of relevant publication activities in accordance with the division responsibilities prescribed by the State Council. Administrative departments in charge of publications management under local people's governments at and above the county level (hereafter shortened as publications administrative departments) are responsible for supervision and management of publication activities within each administrative district. Other relevant departments of local people's governments at and above the county level are responsible for supervision and management of relevant publication activities within the scope of their responsibilities. Article 7. When investigating and dealing with activities of publishing, printing, copying, importing, or distributing publications suspected of violating the law based on evidence of alleged violations of the law already obtained or reports by informants, publications administrative departments can inspect goods related to illegal activities; and can seal up or detain goods proven to be related to illegal activities. Article 8. Social organizations of the publications industry exercise self-regulation in accordance with their charters and under the guidance of publications administrative departments. Chapter II. Establishment and Management of Publishing units [subhead] Article 9. Newspapers, periodicals, books, audio and video products, and electronic publications are to be published by publishing units. Publishing units referred to in these regulations include newspaper offices, periodical offices, and publishing houses of books, audio and video products, and electronic products. Editorial departments of newspapers and periodicals published by legal persons, which do not have a newspaper or periodical office, are regarded as publishing units. Article 10. The State Council's publications administrative department draws up plans for the total number, structure, and distribution of publishing units nationwide. Article 11. Qualifications for establishing a publishing unit are as follows: (1) The title and charter of a publishing unit; (2) A sponsor and its competent authorities certified by the State Council's publications administrative department; (3) A definite scope of businesses; (4) Registered capital of no less than 300,000 yuan and permanent working venue; (5) Organizational structure commensurate with the operational scope and editorial and publishing professional personnel, who meet the qualifications of state regulations; and (6) Other qualifications prescribed by the law and administrative rules and regulations. In addition to meeting the qualifications listed in the preceding paragraph, approval of applications for establishing a publishing unit should also tally with the state plans for the total number, structure, and distribution of publishing units. Article 12. Application for establishing publishing units should be submitted by the sponsor to the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department; and after reviewed and concurred by the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department, be reported to the State Council's publications administrative department for examination and approval. Article 13. Application for establishing publishing units should include the items listed below: (1) Title and address of publishing units; (2) Title and address of the sponsor and its competent authorities of publishing units; (3) Name, address, and certificates of qualifications of the legal representative or chief executive officer of publishing units; and (4) Source and amount of funds of publishing units. Application for establishing a newspaper or periodical office, or for newspaper or periodical editorial department, should also include name, interval between publications, format size, and printing venue of the publication. Applications should be accompanied with charters of publishing units and relevant documents of sponsors for the publishing units and their competent authorities. Article 14. The State Council's publications administrative department should decide whether to approve or not to approve an application within 90 days after receipt of the application for establishing a publishing unit; and the sponsor will be notified of the decision by the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department, and be given reasons in case of disapproval. Article 15. The sponsor of publishing units should complete registration and obtain the publication license from the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department within 60 days after receipt of the notification of the decision. The items of registration are to be standardized by the State Council's publications administrative department. After completing registration, publishing units shall bring the publication license to the industry and commerce administrative department to complete the registration there and obtain the business license according to the law. Article 16. Newspaper offices, periodical offices, and publishing houses of books, audio and video products, and electronic products should have the qualifications of legal persons. After obtaining the status of legal persons following verification and registration of the qualifications, newspaper and periodical offices and publishing houses shall assume civil liabilities independently with the entire assets of legal persons. Sponsors of newspaper and periodical editorial departments, which are regarded as publishing units under the provisions in Section 3 of Article 9 of these regulations, shall assume their civil liabilities because they do not have the status of legal persons. Article 17. When publishing units changes the title, sponsor or its competent authorities, and scope of businesses; merge with or separate from other publishing units; or publish new newspapers or periodicals; or when newspapers or periodicals change the title and interval between publications, it is necessary to apply for approval in accordance with the provisions prescribed in Articles 12 and 13 of these regulations, and complete the corresponding registration procedures at the industry and commerce administrative department, where they have registered. In making changes of other items than those listed in the preceding paragraph, publishing units should, after concurred by the sponsor and its competent authorities, apply for the changes of registration with the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department; and after reporting to the State Council's publications administrative department for the record, complete registration of changes with the industry and commerce administrative department, where they have registered. Article 18. When publishing units terminate publication activities, it is necessary to apply for cancellation of registration with the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department; and after reporting to the State Council's publications administrative department for the record, complete the cancellation of registration with the industry and commerce administrative department, where it has registered. Article 19. When publishing houses of books, audio and video products, or electronic products do not have any publication activities within 180 days after registration; or when newspaper or periodical offices do not publish a newspaper or periodical within 90 days after registration, the publications administrative department, where the publishing houses or newspaper or periodical offices have registered, shall cancel their registration and report to the State Council's publications administrative department for the record. When circumstances prescribed in the preceding paragraph occur because of irresistible forces or other legitimate reasons, publishing units can apply for the extension with the publications administrative department, where they have registered. Article 20. Annual publications plans of publishing houses of books, audio and video products, and electronic products, as well as selections of major projects having a bearing on national security and social stability, should be examined and verified by the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department and report to the State Council's publications administrative department for the record. Selections of major projects, which are not reported to higher authorities for the record before publication, are not allowed to publish. Specific procedures are to be drawn up by the State Council's publications administrative department. Selections of major projects by periodical offices should be handled in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the preceding paragraph. Article 21. Publications administrative departments should strengthen routine supervision and management of publication activities of publishing units within their own administrative district. Publishing units should submit written reports to publications administrative departments on the condition of their publication activities in accordance with the regulations of the State Council's publications administrative department. Article 22. Publishing units are not allowed to sell or transfer in any other form to any unit or individual their unit titles, book titles, periodical titles, or layout formats; nor are they allowed to lease units' titles or periodical titles. Article 23. Before putting their publications into circulation, publishing units should, in accordance with the relevant state regulations, send free samples to the national libraries, the libraries of Chinese editions, and the State Council's publications administrative department. Chapter III. Publishing of Publications [subhead] Article 24. Pursuant to the provisions in these regulations, citizens can freely express in publications their understanding of and aspirations for state affairs, economic and cultural undertakings, and social affairs; and can freely publish results of their own scientific research, literary and artistic creations, and other cultural activities. Lawful publications are protected under the law; and no organization or individual is allowed to illegally interfere with, obstruct, and sabotage the publishing of publications. Article 25. Publishing units shall implement editors' responsibility system to ensure that contents of publications comply with the provisions in these regulations. Article 26. No publication is allowed to have the following contents: (1) Which oppose the basic principles laid in the constitution; (2) Which are detrimental to national unification, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; (3) Which leak state secrets, endanger national security, or damage national honor and interests; (4) Which incite ethnic hatred and ethnic discrimination, undermine ethnic unity, or encroach upon ethnic customs and habits; (5) Which publicize cults and superstitions; (6) Which disrupt public order and undermine social stability; (7) Which publicize pornography, gambling, and violence, or instigate crimes; (8) Which insult or slander other people and encroach upon others' legitimate interests; (9) Which endanger social ethics or outstanding national cultural traditions; and (10) Other contents prohibited by the laws, administrative rules and regulations, and state provisions. Article 27. Publications targeted at minors are not allowed to include contents, which induce minors to imitate antisocial and anti-ethical behavior and criminal behavior; or horrible and cruel contents which are harmful to the healthy development of minors' mind and body. Article 28. When untruthful or unfair contents of publications cause damage to the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, or other organizations, the publishing units should make corrections publicly to remove the consequences, and undertake other civil liabilities in accordance with the law. When untruthful or unfair contents of materials published by newspapers and periodicals cause damage to the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, or other organizations, parties concerned have the right to demand relevant publishing units to make correction or reply. The relevant publishing units should publish corrections in the next issue of newspapers or periodicals. When publishing units refuse to do so, the parties concerned have the right to file lawsuits with the people's court. Article 29. In accordance with the relevant state regulations, publications should state authors, publishers, printers or reproducers, the title and address of distributors; book, periodical, or edition titles; publication dates and interval between publications; and other relevant items. Specifications, sizes, formats, layouts and bindings, and proofreading of publications must meet the state standards and requirements in order to ensure quality of publications. Article 30. No unit or individual should be allowed to publish publications forging or using fake titles of publishing units and newspapers and periodicals. Article 31. The State Council's education administrative department shall examine or organize the examination of middle and primary school textbooks. Their publishing, printing, and circulating units shall be decided through bidding or other open and fair methods sponsored by the publications and education administrative departments together with the departments in charge of prices under people's government at and above the provincial level. Any other unit or individual is not allowed to engaged in publishing, printing, and distributing operations of middle and primary school textbooks. The State Council's publications administrative department, education administrative department, and department in charge of prices shall work out specific procedures and measures for implementation. Chapter IV. Printing or Reproduction and Distribution of Publications [subhead] Article 32. Units to be engaged in printing or reproducing publications should submit application to the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department; and, after reviewed and approved by the department, should complete related formalities with the public security agency and the industry and commerce administrative department in accordance with the relevant state regulations before they can start printing or reproducing publications. Without obtaining approval and completing related formalities, no unit is allowed to print newspapers, periodicals, and books; or to reproduce audio and video products and electronic products. Article 33. Publishing units are not allowed to commission units, which do not have the permit for printing or reproducing publications, to print or reproduce publications. When commissioning printing or reproducing units to print or reproduce publications, publishing units should present relevant certificates for printing or reproducing publications in accordance with the state regulations; and should sign contracts with printing or reproducing units in accordance with the law. Printing or reproducing units are not allowed to print newspapers, periodicals, and books or reproduce audio and video products and electronic products on commission from non-publishing units and individuals; nor are they allowed to print and distribute, without authorization, newspapers, periodicals, and books, or to reproduce and distribute audio and video products and electronic products. Article 34. With the approval from the local provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department, printing or reproduction units can accept businesses of printing or reproducing publications from outside the territory. However, publications from outside printed or reproduced must all be transported out of the territory, and must not be distributed inside the territory. Contents of publications commissioned for printing or reproducing from outside the territory should be examined by the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department. Units or individuals who place commissions should present a letter of copy authorization and complete registration with the copyright administrative and management department. Article 35. Printing or reproducing units should keep for future reference a sample of contracted publications for two years beginning from the day the printing or reproduction of contracted publications is completed. Article 36. Units to be engaged in chain operations of newspapers, periodicals, and books nationwide should be examined and approved by the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal government's publications administrative department, where their headquarters will be located; be reported to the State Council's publications administrative department for reviewing and approval; and be issued with the business license from the industry and commerce administrative department in accordance with the law. Distributing units to be engaged in general distribution of newspapers, periodicals, and books can begin the business as a general distributor of newspapers, periodicals, and books only after they are examined and approved by the State Council's publications administrative department; and after they are issued with the business license from the industry and commerce administrative department in accordance with the law. Distributing units to be engaged in wholesales of newspapers, periodicals, and books can begin the wholesale business only after they are examined and approved by the provincial, autonomous regional, or municipal people's government's publications administrative department; and after they are issued with the business license from the industry and commerce administrative department in accordance with the law. Distribution of newspapers, periodicals, and books by postal units shall be handled in accordance with the Postal Law. Article 37. Units and individuals to be engaged in retail businesses of newspapers, periodicals, and books can begin the business only after they obtain approval from the publications administrative departments of people's governments at the county level and after they receive the business license from the industry and commerce administrative department. Article 38. Publishing units can distribute publications published by themselves, but cannot distribute publications published by other publishing units. Article 39. The state permits Sino-foreign joint ventures, Sino-foreign cooperative businesses, and solely foreign-owned enterprises to be engaged in businesses of distributing books, newspapers, and periodicals. Specific procedures and measures for implementation shall be drawn up by the State Council's publications administrative department together with the State Council's department in charge of foreign trade and economic relations in accordance with the relevant provisions. Article 40. Printing or reproducing units and distributing units are not allowed to print or reproduce and distribute publications, which have one of the following circumstances: (1) Have contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27; (2) Are imported illegally; (3) Forge or use fake titles of publishing units, or newspaper and periodical titles; (4) Do not have the title of publishing units; (5) Are middle and primary school textbooks, which have not been examined and approved in accordance with the law; and (6) Encroach upon other people's copyright. Chapter V. Imports of Publications [subhead] Article 41. Imports of publications are to be handled by import managing units, which are established in accordance with these regulations; and of these, management of newspaper and periodical imports are to be designated by the State Council's publications administrative department. Without approval, no unit or individual can be engaged in imports of publications; and without designation, no unit or individual can engaged in newspaper and periodical imports. Article 42. The establishment of publications import managing units should meet the following conditions: (1) Have the title and charter of publications import managing units; (2) Are solely state-owned enterprises with the sponsor and its competent authorities certified by the State Council's publications administrative department; (3) Have a definite scope of businesses; (4) Have an organizational structure commensurate with publications import businesses, and professional personnel with qualifications meeting the state regulations; (5) Have capital suitable for publications import businesses; (6) Have permanent business venues; and (7) Other conditions prescribed by the laws, administrative rules and regulations, and state regulations. In addition to meeting the conditions listed in the preceding paragraph, approval of applications for establishing publications import managing units should also tally with the state plans for the total number, structure, and distribution of publications import managing units. Article 43. Units to be engaged in imports of publications shall submit application to the State Council's publications administrative department; and after examination and approval, be issued with a permit for managing publications imports by the department. With the permit, units shall visit the industry and commerce administration to obtain the business license in accordance with the law. Units to be engaged in publications imports should complete relevant formalities in accordance with the provisions in foreign trade laws and administrative rules and regulations. Article 44. Publications imported by publications import managing units must not have contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27 of these regulations. Publications import managing units are responsible for examining contents of publications to be imported. The publications administrative departments of people's governments at and above the provincial level can directly inspect contents of publications imported by publications import managing units. When publications import managing units are unable to ascertain whether their imported publications have contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27, they can request the publications administrative departments of people's governments at and above the provincial level to examine the contents. When the publications administrative departments of people's governments at and above the provincial level conduct examination of imported publications at the request of publications import managing units, the department can collect a fee according to the standard approved by the State Council's department in charge of prices. The State Council's publications administrative department can prohibit imports of specific publications. Article 45. Before importing publications, publications import managing units should enter the catalog of publications to be imported in the records of the publications administrative department of people's governments at and above the provincial level. When the publications administrative department of people's governments at and above the provincial level discovers publications listed in the catalog, which are prohibited from imports or are shelved for imports, the department should promptly notify publications import managing unit as well as issue a circular among customs offices. Publications import managing units cannot import, and customs offices cannot let go publications, which are prohibited from imports or shelved for imports. The State Council's publications administrative department shall draw up specific procedures for entering publications to be imported in the records of the publications administrative department. Article 46. Distributors of imported publications must obtain imported publications from legally established publications import managing units; and of these, distributors of imported newspapers and periodicals must obtain imported newspapers and periodicals from publications import managing units designated by the State Council's publications administrative department. Article 47. Publications import managing units must obtain approval from the State Council's publications administrative department for holding inside the territory exhibitions of publications from outside the territory. Without the approval, no unit or individual shall be allowed to hold exhibitions of publications from outside the territory. Sales of publications from outside the territory at the exhibitions, which are held in accordance with the provisions in the preceding article, should be handled in accordance with procedures prescribed in the relevant state regulations. Chapter VI. Guarantee and Reward [subhead] Article 48. The state formulates relevant policies to guarantee and promote development and prosperity of publishing undertakings. Article 49. The state supports and encourages the publishing of outstanding publications in the following key areas: (1) Which play an important role in expounding and disseminating the basic principles laid in the construction; (2) Which have great significance in educating the people in patriotism, collectivism, and socialism; and in promoting social mores, professional ethics, and family virtues; (3) Which make great contributions to carrying forward outstanding national culture and reporting in a timely fashion new scientific and cultural achievements at home and abroad; and (4) Which have great ideological, scientific, or cultural and artistic values. Article 50. The state protects publication and distribution of textbooks. The state assists publication and distribution of publications of ethnic languages and publications in Braille. The state implements preferential policies toward distributions of publications in ethnic minority regions, frontier regions, economically underdeveloped regions, and rural areas. Article 51. Postal enterprises, which have contracted distribution of newspapers and periodicals, should ensure the distribution of publications in time and precisely according to the contracts. Contracted transporting enterprises should facilitate the transportation of publications. Article 52. The state shall reward units and individuals, who make important contributions to the development and prosperity of publishing undertakings. Article 53. Publications administrative departments and other relevant departments of people's governments at and above the county levels should take timely action to stop illegal behavior of interfering with, obstructing, and undermining the publishing, printing or reproduction, imports, and distribution of publications. Chapter VII. Legal Responsibilities [subhead] Article 54. Staff employees of publications administrative departments or other relevant departments, who take advantage of their positions to accept cash, gifts, or other benefits from others in exchange of approving the establishment of publishing, printing or reproduction, import, and distribution units, which do not meet legal qualifications; or who fail to fulfill supervisory duties or to investigate violations of the law, and cause serious consequences; shall be affixed with criminal responsibility in accordance with the provisions in the Criminal Law on bribery, power abuse, dereliction of duty, and other crimes. Where criminal punishment is still not warranted, administrative penalty of demotion or dismissal shall be taken. Article 55. Publishing, printing or reproduction, import, and distributing units, which are established without approval; businesses of publishing, printing or reproducing, importing, and distributing publications without approval; and behavior of using fake titles of publishing units or of forging and using fake titles of newspapers and periodicals in publishing publications; shall be cracked down by publications administrative departments and industry and commerce administrative departments pursuant to their legal functions; and shall be affixed with criminal responsibility in accordance with the provisions in the Criminal Law on crimes of illegal business operations. Where criminal punishment is still not warranted, publications, illegal incomes, and tools and equipment for engaging in illegal business operations shall be confiscated. Where the volume of illegal business operations is over 10,000 yuan, a fine no more than 10 times but no less than five times of the volume of illegal business operations shall be imposed. Where the volume of illegal business operations is under 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 50,000 yuan but no less than 10,000 yuan shall be imposed. Where the legitimate rights and interests of others are encroached, civil liabilities should be undertaken. Article 56. Whoever commits one of the acts listed in the following paragraph in violation of criminal laws shall be affixed with criminal responsibility in accordance with the relevant provisions in the Criminal Law. Where criminal punishment is not warranted, the publications administrative department shall order suspension of operations for consolidation within a time limit and shall have publications and illegal incomes confiscated. Where the volume of illegal business operations is over 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 10 times but no less than five times of the volume of illegal business operations shall be imposed. Where the volume of illegal business operations is under 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 50,000 yuan but no less than 10,000 yuan shall be imposed. Where circumstances are serious, the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. (1) Publishing and importing publications with contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27; (2) Knowingly printing or reproducing and distributing publications with contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27; (3) Knowingly selling, or transferring in another form, titles, book titles, periodical titles, typeface, and format layout of one's own publishing unit, or leasing titles and periodical titles of one's own unit, to publications published by others with contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27. Article 57. Whoever commits one of the acts listed in the following paragraph, shall be ordered by the publications administrative department to stop the illegal activities, and have the publications and illegal incomes confiscated. Where the volume of illegal business operations is over 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 10 times but no less than five times of the volume of illegal business operations shall be imposed. Where the volume of illegal business operations is under 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 50,000 yuan but no less than 10,000 yuan shall be imposed. Where circumstances are serious, an order to suspend operations for consolidation within a time limit shall be issued, or the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. (1) Importing, printing or reproducing, and distributing publications prohibited to import by the State Council's publications administrative department; (2) Printing or reproducing publications smuggled from outside the territory; and (3) Distributing imported publications from unauthorized publications import managing units. Article 58. Smuggling of publications shall be affixed with criminal responsibilities in accordance with the provisions in the Criminal Law on smuggling. Where criminal punishment is not warranted, the customs office shall mete out administrative penalty in accordance with the provisions in the Customs Law. Article 59. Whoever commits one of the acts listed in the following paragraph shall have the publications and illegal incomes confiscated by the publications administrative department. Where the volume of illegal business operations is over 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 10 times but no less than five times of the volume of illegal business operations shall be imposed. Where the volume of illegal business operations is under 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 50,000 yuan but no less than 10,000 yuan shall be imposed. Where circumstances are serious, an order to suspend operations for consolidation within a time limit shall be issued, or the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. (1) Where a printing or reproduction unit prints or reproduces publications without the printing or reproducing permit; (2) Where a printing or reproduction unit accepts commissions from non-publishing units and individuals to print or reproduce publications; (3) Where a printing or reproduction unit fails to complete legal formalities before printing or reproducing publications from outside the territory, or to transport all printed or reproduced publications out of the territory; (4) Where a printing or reproduction unit, distributing unit, and an individual distributes publications, which do not have the title of publishing units; and (5) Where a publishing, printing, or distributing unit publishes, prints, or distributes middle and primary school textbooks, which are not examined and approved legally; where the businesses of publishing, printing, and distributing middle and primary school textbooks are handled by units, which are not designated to handle the textbooks in accordance with the provisions in these regulations. Article 60. Publishing units, which sell or transfer in any other form their titles, book titles, periodical titles, typeface, and format layout, or which lease their titles and periodical titles, shall be ordered by the publications administrative department to suspend the illegal activities, be given a warning, and have the illegal publications and incomes confiscated. Where the volume of illegal business operations is over 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 10 times but no less than five times of the volume of illegal business operations shall be imposed. Where the volume of illegal business operations is under 10,000 yuan, a fine of no more than 50,000 yuan but no less than 10,000 yuan shall be imposed. Where circumstances are serious, an order to suspend operations for consolidation within a time limit shall be issued, or the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. Article 61. Whoever commits one of the acts listed in the following paragraph shall be ordered by the publications administrative department to make correction and be given a warning. Where circumstances are serious, an order to suspend operations for consolidation within a time limit shall be issued, or the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. (1) Where a publishing unit fails to comply with the provisions in these regulation in visiting the publications administrative department to apply for approval and to complete the registration with regard to changes of their title, sponsor or its competent authorities, scope of businesses; merger with or separation from other publishing units; new newspapers and periodicals published; changes of newspaper and periodical titles and interval between publications, or other items related to the publishing units; (2) Where a publishing unit fails to submit for the record its annual publication plans and major projects involving national security and social stability; (3) Where a publishing unit fails to submit samples of publications in accordance with the provisions in these regulations; (4) Where a printing or reproduction unit fails to keep materials for future reference in accordance with provisions in these regulations; and (5) Where a publication import managing unit fails to submit for the record a catalog of imported publications in accordance with the provisions in these regulations. Article 62. Whoever holds exhibitions of publications from outside the territory without approval shall be ordered by the publications administrative department to stop the illegal activities, and have publications and illegal incomes confiscated. Where circumstances are serious, an order to suspend operations for consolidation within a time limit shall be issued, or the permit shall be revoked by the agency, which issued the certificate previously. Article 63. Whoever prints or reproduces, wholesales, retails, or leases publications with contents prohibited in Articles 26 and 27 or other illegal publications, but explains and identifies the source of publications, proven to be true after verification, shall have the publications and illegal incomes confiscated, but shall receive reduced or be exempted from punishment. Article 64. Units, which are given the administrative penalty of having the permit revoked, should visit the industry and commerce administrative department to complete the procedures of alteration or termination of registration in accordance with the relevant state regulations. Whoever fails to do so shall have the business license revoked by the industry and commerce administrative department. Article 65. The legal representative or chief executive officer of units, whose permit is revoked under administrative penalty, are not allowed to become legal representative or chief executive officer of any publishing, printing or reproduction, import, or distributing unit within 10 years after the day the permit is revoked. Article 66. In imposing a fine as administrative penalty in accordance with the provisions in these regulations, it is necessary to separate the decision on the fine from the collection of the fine in accordance with the relevant laws and administrative rules and regulations. All fines collected must be turned over to the state treasury. Chapter VIII. Supplementary Rules [subhead] Article 67. Administrative rules and regulations, which have separate provisions for the publishing, reproduction, import, and distribution of audio and video products, are applicable. The administrative procedures for accepting publications sent as gifts by institutions or individuals from outside the territory, the procedures for subscribing to publications from outside the territory, and the administrative procedures, the administrative procedures for Internet publications, and the administrative procedures for publishing electronic publications shall be drawn up separately by the State Council's publications administrative department based on the principles in these regulations. Article 68. These regulations shall be implemented from 1 February 2002. The "Regulations on Management of Publications" promulgated by the State Council on 2 January 1997 shall be abolished simultaneously. [Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua Domestic Service in Chinese -- China's official news service (New China News Agency)]