Nineteen local e-commerce companies yesterday signed an agreement to protect consumers buying products online.

The companies included Ctrip, China's major online tourism service, eachnet.com, Shanghai Online, Gome House Electric Appliance and Staples.

The companies will also deal with consumers complaints, coordinating with the Shanghai Electronic Commerce Association, said the Shanghai Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision.

The bureau has been inspecting toys, lamps and household electric appliances sold on the Internet and found that many of them are inferior.

An inspection carried out by the bureau in June showed that nearly 80 percent of the toys sold on the Internet did not meet the standards required - some even presented hidden dangers to children.

Nearly 60 percent of the lights and other household electric appliances also failed the bureau's quality tests. Counterfeits and products without China Compulsory Certificate were also been found on the Internet.

At present the bureau's Yangpu, Hongkou and Putuo districts branches accept e-commerce complaints, and consumers can also complain or report on the Website www.ec315.cn.

The Shanghai Informatization Commission said it has suggested the Shanghai People's Congress draft a regulation on the e-commerce but this is still under discussion.

"Difficulties exist as e-commerce is not just city affair but a national affair," said a commission official. "Thus an inter-regional regulation is needed, and we'll have to talk with other provinces, or even call for state-level regulations. E-commerce is an international business and difficult to regulate."

(Shanghai Daily October 19, 2007)