State Council Publishes Revised Regulations on Procedures for the Formulation of Administrative Regulations

On May 19, 2026, the State Council published the revised Regulations on Procedures for the Formulation of Administrative Regulations (the “Regulations”), which shall come into force on July 1, 2026.

The Regulations consist of 8 chapters and 48 articles. The revisions include: improving the general requirements for the formulation of administrative regulations, and clarifying that legislation shall be expedited for matters that are urgently needed, limited in scope of adjustment, and relatively less controversial; strengthening overall legislative coordination by requiring relevant departments to submit mature applications for legislative projects, and providing that the State Council department for the rule of law shall formulate the annual legislative plan with emphasis on key, emerging, and foreign-related fields; improving the drafting and review mechanisms, implementing ex ante assessment, and strengthening orderly public participation, as well as assessment of legislative timing and expected implementation effects; stipulating that, to meet the needs of reform, a mechanism shall be established for assessment, amendment, or resumption of implementation after the temporary adjustment or suspension of the application of relevant provisions, and organizing the cleanup of administrative regulations.