In the People's Republic of China (PRC), since 1978 when the Communist Party adapted the political resolution on promoting economic reform and liberalization at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th General Committee held in Beijing, three laws were enacted by the central government regarding the establishment and operation of whole sale markets for agricultural products and fair trade markets for foodstuff. These laws have become widespread and now apply to wholesale markets in big cities and fair trade markets in most residential areas, all over the PRC. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the character of the three laws by comparing them with the Japan's 'Central Wholesale Market Law' which was enacted by the Japanese Diet in 1971. The first law is the 'Administrative Act on Fair Trade Markets in Urban and Rural Areas', which was enacted in 1983. This law has played a significant role in the establishment and administration of the fair trade markets. Furthermore, to a certain degree it also had directive function on wholesale markets set up. However, this act doesn't include provisions for the management of wholesale market yet. The second law is the 'Register Administrative Act on Commodity Trade Markets', which was enacted in 1993 and revised in 1996. Under this act, commodity trade markets have been established and pay tax for operation of the retail business. The third law is the 'Administrative Act on Wholesale Markets' which was enacted in 1994. This is the first act on wholesale markets in the PRC. It not only gives a definition of wholesale markets, but also detailed regulations on establishment, administration and the operation of wholesale markets, trading and fostering dealers, etc. This act is regarded as a symbol of agricultural products marketing system that is shifting from quantity growth to quality improvement. A comparison of the present situation of wholesale markets with this act indicated that this act will play important roles in the aspects of (1) separation of administrator, investor and manager, (2) classification between wholesale markets and fair trade markets, central wholesale markets and local wholesale markets, (3) unitary permission procedures, (4) fostering dealers, (5) improvement of wholesale market information, and so on. Therefore, this act will contribute to the development of agricultural produce wholesale marketing system and price stability at the wholesale market level in the PRC.