BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Corporate entities and individuals must obtain a license before starting online sales operations in Beijing under new rules.

The Regulations Regarding IT Application Promotion of Beijing, adopted by the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress, make the capital the first region in the country to introduce such a requirement.

Article 26 of the regulations, which are effective from Dec. 1,stipulate that an online sales business must hold a trading permit and publish details of the license on its website.

Meanwhile, e-commerce service providers should monitor ID information, legal business operation permits, credit records, and set up complaint centers to facilitate supervision of online trading.

An executive with Taobao.com, a leading e-commerce service website, insisted it had operated a complete system for standardizing transactions and supervision, but promised to cooperate with administrative departments in the drive to further regulate the e-commerce market.

Under existing regulations, online traders must register their real identities as requested by e-commerce service providers, but are not required to obtain business licenses.