BEIJING - China's top legislature on Tuesday began reading draft amendments to the consumer rights law, marking the first time changes have been considered for the law that took effect 20 years ago.

"Consumption patterns, structure and concepts in China have undergone great changes over the past two decades, and new problems have emerged in the field of consumer rights protection," said Li Shishi, director of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

While briefing national lawmakers during a three-day bimonthly legislative session that opened Tuesday, Li said amending the law aims to improve the protection of consumers' rights and interests, boost consumer confidence and promote "rational consumption that should be energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly."

The consumer rights law, which was enacted in 1993, has played a key role in "protecting consumers' interests, maintaining economic and social order and promoting the healthy development of the socialist market economy," he said.

Under the draft amendments, the role of consumers' associations and supervision over consumer rights protection will be further strengthened in order to prevent consumer disputes, Li said.

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