CHINA’S market regulator on Thursday (Jun 15) issued guidelines on regulating business practices for mystery boxes, strengthening compliance management of the fast-growing yet thinly regulated market.

Mystery box vendors are banned from selling items to minors under the age of eight without the consent of guardians, according to the guidelines, released after market close on Thursday and effective immediately.

The Chinese market for mystery boxes, whose contents are sold undisclosed and which are also known as blind boxes, has grown quickly, contributing to the fast expansion of domestic toymakers such as Pop Mart.

Pop Mart’s Hong Kong shares closed up 1.49 per cent. REUTERS