Courts putting smaller consumer cases on fast track

More courts in China are speeding up the hearing of consumer-related cases in an effort to improve overall trial and mediation efficiency, a top court official said.

Although the amount of money at stake in many consumer disputes is not large, such cases are of great importance to residents and come up frequently, said Zhang Yongjian, chief judge of civil department of the Supreme People's Court.

Chinese courts dealt with 482,545 consumer-related cases over the past four years, the top court said in a report issued on Wednesday, and the number is rising. The 2013 figure was 128,198, about 15,000 more than in 2010, the report said.

To better tackle the rapidly growing caseload, several courts have set up "green channels" to improve work efficiency, Zhang said.

For instance, the court in Fu-yang, Zhejiang province, established a fast-trial and mediation system to hear consumer-related cases involving small sums and agreed to settle such disputes for free, the report said.

Some courts, such as those in Cixi and Shangcheng in Zhejiang province, have created a legal hotline to resolve conflicts between consumers and sellers in cooperation with local consumer associations, the report said.

Courts in Hainan province even set up traveling circuit courts in scenic spots during peak tourist seasons to save consumers' time and judicial costs, Zhang said.

Sun Jungong, the top court's spokesman, said the Chinese judiciary is taking such disputes seriously.

"We also provide advice for producers and sellers, urging them to boost their management and change their operating attitude; and we listen to the opinions of residents and businesspeople after their cases are concluded," Sun said, adding that litigants have sent more than 800 suggestions and received nearly 300 feedback items so far.

The advice has turned into an effective way to regulate and promote market order and prevent conflicts between sellers and buyers, according to Sun.

Asking grassroots courts to make themselves more convenient for people, the top court also issued judicial interpretations last year on how to handle tourism and food or medicine disputes, making case hearings more practical, the report said.

In the revised Civil Procedure Law, consumers' associations are allowed to lodge public interest litigation, which in Zhang's eyes is a better way to protect consumers' rights.

"But it is just a legal item in principle that is hard for judges to turn into practice," Zhang said, adding that the top court is soon planning to issue guidelines for the courts.

Liu Junhai, an expert in consumer protection law at Renmin University of China, spoke highly of the public interest litigation, saying consumers can bring a lawsuit with zero cost.

He suggested the government provide more support to the consumer associations and hoped the coming guidelines will give more specific measures to deal with consumer disputes.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn