Direct sales companies are facing tougher oversight of their operations in China after Beijing fined Nu Skin Enterprises, the US direct-sale skincare and dietary supplement company, for illegal product sales.

直销公司在中国的业务活动将面临更为严厉的监管。此前中国有关部门以产品销售中存在非法行为为由，对美国护肤品和营养补充品直销公司如新(Nu Skin Enterprises)处以罚款。

China’s State Administration for Industry and Commerce said yesterday that it was fining Nu Skin more than $500,000.

中国国家工商行政管理总局(SAIC)昨日表示，对如新处以逾50万美元的罚款。

The company said the fine related to “the sale of certain products by individual direct sellers that, while permitted for sale in Nu Skin China’s retail stores, were not registered for the direct-selling ­channel”.

如新表示，受到这一处罚是因为“个别直销员销售若干虽可在如新中国店铺销售、但未经直销登记的产品”。

The company also said six employees had been fined a total of more than $200,000.

该公司还表示，6名雇员被处以总计逾20万美元的罚款。

The fines appeared to conclude an investigation launched in January after a series of articles in the official People’s Daily newspaper claimed Nu Skin operated a “suspected illegal pyramid scheme” and “brainwashed” staff.

今年1月，中国官方的《人民日报》发表系列文章，指责如新“涉嫌非法传销活动”，并对员工进行“洗脑”，相关部门随后展开了调查。如今国家工商总局开出罚单似乎标志着调查完成。

The company denied the allegations.

如新否认媒体的指控。

Nu Skin said that “the company is already taking steps to correct the issues raised in the SAIC reviews and is not aware of any other material enforcement investigations currently pending in China”.

如新表示，“公司已采取步骤，以纠正国家工商总局审查中提出的问题，同时不知晓目前在中国有其他任何未决的重大执法调查事项”。

“We remain committed to working co-operatively with the Chinese government to ensure the healthy, long-term growth of our business,” said Dan Chard, president of global sales and operations.

如新全球销售和运营总监丹•查德(Dan Chard)表示：“我们依然致力于与中国政府合作，以确保业务的健康和长期增长。”

Beijing warned that it planned to “increase the level of regulation of the direct sales market” and “sternly investigate and punish any behaviour that violates the law or regulations”.

中国政府警告称，计划“加大直销市场的监管力度”，并且“严厉查处直销违法违规行为”。

Amway, the market leader by sales in China, welcomed the move, saying “the SAIC notice today is actually good news for us. We have a strict policy on our direct-sales management and an internal penalty system to ensure that our sales staff behave properly. We actually hope the government will enhance the regulation of direct sales since that will help our customers distinguish proper direct sales from pyramid sales”.

按销售计算，安利(Amway)是中国直销市场的领军者。该公司对中国政府的举措表示欢迎，称：“对我们来说，国家工商总局今天的公告实际上是好消息。我们有一套严格的直销管理政策和内部处罚制度确保我们的销售人员正确行事。我们实际上希望中国政府加强直销监管，因为这将帮助我们的客户将正当的直销与传销区分开。”

Herbalife, the US-based nutrition company, is also active in China. Earlier this month the US Federal Trade Commission opened a formal investigation.

总部位于美国的营养品公司康宝莱(Herbalife)也在中国积极开展业务。本月早些时候，美国联邦贸易委员会(US Federal Trade Commission)对其展开正式调查。

In China, a government investigation preceded by a high-profile attack in state media fits a pattern that has become familiar to global companies including Apple, GlaxoSmithKline, Volkswagen, Samsung, KFC and Walmart over the past year.

在中国，先是官方媒体高调批评，然后相关部门展开调查，这种套路在过去一年里被苹果(Apple)、葛兰素史克(GlaxoSmithKline)、大众(Volkswagen)、三星(Samsung)、肯德基(KFC)和沃尔玛(Walmart)等全球公司领教。