１９９４年８月，國家工商行政管理局根據國務院指示發布《關于制止多層次傳銷活動中違法行為的通告》。
In August of 1994, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, in accordance with State Council directives, issued the Circular Concerning the Curbing of Illegal Activities within Pyramid Retailing.

對此，個別地方沒有認真落實，未對傳銷企業作清理檢查，有的地方還陸續發展了一些傳銷企業，使非法傳銷活動又有所發展蔓延。
The localities have not conscientiously implemented this, failing to put in order and examine the pyramid retail industry, and some localities are still developing some pyramid retail enterprises, allowing illegal pyramid retailing activities to spread once again.

鑒于我國關于傳銷經營方式的法律、法規當前尚未建立健全，對傳銷活動很難規范和管理、加之廣大消費者的消費心理還不夠成熟，目前不具備開展多層次傳銷的條件。
In view that China’s laws and regulations concerning pyramid retail operations remain as yet incomplete, that the standardization and management of pyramid retailing is very difficult, and that the consumer psychology of the vast majority of consumers is not fully mature, conditions are not yet present for the development of the pyramid retail industry.

少數不法商人借此進行欺詐活動，嚴重侵害消費者的合法權益，對守法經營者構成不正當競爭，也使大多數傳銷員蒙受了經濟損失，引發了社會問題，擾亂了經濟秩序。
A minority of lawbreaking merchants have taken advantage of this to engage in deceitful practices which seriously infringe on the legal rights and interests of the consumers, constituting unfair competition towards legal operators, resulting in financial losses to the majority of retailers engaged in pyramid retailing, arousing social problems, and disturbing the economic order.

為遏制不正當的傳銷活動，打擊不法商人的欺詐行為，保護消費者權益，保護公平競爭，維護社會主義市場經濟秩序，國務院決定停止發展多層次傳銷企業，現就有關問題通知如下：
In order to halt unfair pyramid retailing activities, strike out against the deceitful behavior of lawbreaking merchants, protect the rights and interests of the consumers, protect fair competition, and preserve the order of the socialist market economy, the State Council has decided to halt the opening and development of all pyramid retail enterprises, in accordance with the provisions below:

一、立即停止批準成立多層次傳銷企業。
1. Immediately cease approving and establishing pyramid retail enterprises.

自本通知發布之日起，各地工商行政管理機關和其他有關行政機關一律停止批準、登記注冊以傳銷方式開展經營活動的企業及個體工商戶。
From the date of promulgation of this circular, the industrial and commercial administrative organs and other relevant administrative organs in every locality shall cease to approve and register any enterprise or private industrial or commercial outlets which intends to operate through pyramid retail..

二、對現有傳銷企業進行審查清理。
2. Inspect and rectify already existing pyramid retail enterprises.

對已注冊營業的傳銷企業，必須在１個月內經原注冊機關審核逐級上報國家工商行政管理局重新審查；
Pyramid retail enterprises which are already registered must, within one month, report step-by-step to the State Administration for Industry and Commerce for re-inspection by passing evaluation and approval by the original office which issued the registration;

對拒不接受審查的企業，由當地工商行政管理機關吊銷營業執照。
those enterprises which do not pass evaluation shall have their retail business licenses revoked by the office of industrial and commercial administration in that locality.

在審查期間，傳銷企業必須停止發展傳銷員，不得擴大營業活動。
During the period of evaluation, pyramid retail enterprises must stop developing retail personnel and may not expand business activities.

對傳銷員已交款而傳銷企業未付商品的，由工商行政管理機關監督傳銷企業退款。
For those retail personnel who have handed over money but have not yet received goods from the pyramid retail enterprise, the pyramid retail enterprise shall return their money under the supervision of the office of industrial and commercial administration.

經審查合格的傳銷企業，只能在原注冊地的行政區域內開展傳銷，嚴禁跨地區傳銷；
Pyramid retail enterprises which pass evaluation shall develop only within the administrative area of the original place of registration; trans-regional pyramid retailing is strictly forbidden;

其傳銷人員開展經營活動必須經工商行政管理機關批準，接受監督管理，并依法納稅。
pyramid retailers developing operational activities must be approved by the office of industrial and commercial administration, be subject to supervision, and pay taxes according to law.

外商不得從事以傳銷為經營方式的商業零售業務。
Foreign businesses may not engage in pyramid retail operational modes for professional commercial retailing.

經審查不合格予以注銷的傳銷企業，要認真做好善后工作，自行清理債權債務。
Registered pyramid retail enterprises which do not pass evaluation shall conscientiously clean up their operational mess and settle any credit and debt obligations..

三、對未經工商行政管理機關審查批準，擅自開展多層次傳銷的企業，或違反《關于制止多層次傳銷活動中違法行為的通告》以及上述規定的企業，由當地工商行政管理機關堅決予以取締，沒收傳銷商品、銷貨款和非法所得，并按《中華人民共和國消費者權益保護法》等有關規定處以罰款。
3. Enterprises which have not been approved by the office for industrial and commercial administration and which have developed without authorization pyramid retail operations, or which have violated the Circular Concerning the Curbing of Illegal Activities within Pyramid Retailing or any of the above regulations shall be resolutely suppressed by office of industrial and commercial administration in that region, have the retail commodities and any illegal gains from the sale thereof confiscated, and be subject to a fine according to the Consumer Protection Law and other relevant stipulations.

傳銷企業或參與傳銷的組織、個人有偷稅漏稅、走私販私、制售假冒偽劣商品等違法行為的，由有關行政執法機關依法處理；構成犯罪的，依法移送司法機關。
Any individual in a pyramid retail enterprise or group participating in pyramid retailing who withholds or evades taxes, engages in the smuggling or sale of contraband goods, manufactures or sells counterfeit or shoddy goods, or engages in other illegal activities shall be dealt with according to law by the relevant law enforcement offices; actions which constitute crimes shall be transferred to offices of justice administration in accordance with the law..

四、各級人民政府要切實加強對停止發展多層次傳銷企業的領導工作，工商行政管理、公安、稅務、海關、內貿等部門要密切配合，做好有關善后處理工作。
4. The people’s governments at all levels shall strengthen practical leadership work in stopping the development of pyramid retail enterprises; the industrial and commercial administrations, public security offices, tax offices, customs, domestic trade administrations, and other offices shall work in close coordination to handle all problems arising from this work..

五、國家工商行政管理局要會同有關部門，根據本通知精神，盡快制定傳銷企業的審批管理辦法和對傳銷人員的監督管理辦法。
5. The State Administration for Industry and Commerce and related offices, in the spirit of this circular, shall quickly draw up examination and approval guidelines for pyramid retail enterprises and methods of supervision for pyramid retail personnel.