HONG KONG, Oct 3 Reuters Apple has started requiring new apps to show proof of a Chinese government licence before their release on its China App Store, joining local rivals years that had adopted the policy years earlier to meet tightening state regulations.

Apple began last Friday requiring app developers to submit the internet content provider ICP filing when they publish new apps on its App Store, it said on its website for developers.

An ICP filing is a longtime registration system, required for websites to operate legally in China, and most local app stores including those operated by Tencent and Huawei HWT.UL have adopted it since at least 2017.

To get an ICP filing licence, developers need to have a company in China or work with a local publisher, which has been an obstacle for a large number of foreign apps.

Apple39;s loose ICP policy has allowed it to offer far more mobile apps than local app rivals and helped the U.S. tech giant boost its popularity in China, its thirdlargest market behind the Americas and Europe.

The decision by Apple comes after China further tightened its oversight over mobile apps in August by releasing a new rule requiring all app stores and app developers to submit an app filing containing business details with the regulators.

Chinese regulators last week released names of the first batch of mobile app stores that have completed app filings, but Apple39;s App Store was not among those on the list.

Apple did not respond to a request…