BEIJING - The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, or China's Cabinet, published a draft regulation on recalling defective vehicles Friday in order to solicit public opinions.

According to the regulation, manufacturers must cease producing, selling or importing defective vehicles and recall them if problems are identified.

Manufacturers are also obliged to implement prompt solutions, such as providing repairs, exchanges and refund services.

Furthermore, manufacturers should keep records of the automobiles they have sold and their first-hand buyers for at least 10 years.

If defects are found in spare tires provided in original sale packages, it is the obligation of manufacturers to recall the tires, the draft regulation says.

Chen Fei, director of the defective products management office of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine(AQSIQ), said that a growing number of recalled vehicles is in line with the development of vehicle quality.

"Since implementing its vehicle recall system in 2004, China has found more problems with vehicle quality, although quality has generally improved," Chen said. "The recall system has played an important role in protecting public security and consumers' rights."

Supervisory departments are necessary, as many factories only admit problems and carry out recalls when they are investigated by the administration, Chen said.

Consumer quality watchdogs, especially AQSIQ, should publicly disclose information about defective cars and corresponding recalls, according to the draft.