China to regulate traditional medicine market

Want China Times, Xinhua 2013-07-31

Customers buying traditional Chinese medicine in Bozhou, Anhui province.
(Photo/Xinhua)

The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) on Tuesday called on medical ingredient markets nationwide to curb the manufacture and sale of counterfeit traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Officials in charge of TCM trade centers in 17 cities were summoned to a CFDA meeting on regulating the market.

During CFDA's recent inspections of the TCM market, it found that the production and sale of counterfeit medicine, as well as illegal processing and business operations, are occurring in the medical ingredient market, according to a statement from the administration.

"Firm determination should be used to rectify the market," said CFDA deputy director Wu Zhen.

The move is part of a national campaign starting from July 17 to crack down on counterfeit medicine.

Problematic medical ingredient centers should be closed, criminals should be seriously punished and relevant officials should be held accountable, said Wu.