China tightens rules for drug manufacturers

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

BEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - China is tightening application procedures for firms seeking to manufacture drugs, state media reported on Monday, following a rash of scandals over fake medicines and corruption in the industry.

The higher threshold to qualify for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification will take effect on Jan. 1.

"The new standards have strengthened supervision over weak links in quality control of drug manufacturers," Xinhua news agency quoted Bian Zhenjia, of the State Food and Drug Administration, as saying.

Before the revisions, manufacturers could get away with up to three "severe defects" in their drug-making process and still be certified. Now, no such defects would be tolerated.

Falsifying application documents would also qualify as a "severe defect", the report said.

Read more: http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK185792.htm?=amp&_lite_=1

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Last year China sold more than $675 million in pharmaceutical ingredients and products in the U.S. market.

[Javaman]

1. no more lead pills. nt

[Heywood J]

2. But it was the shiny metal that made it easier

to get the kids to take them! I hope they'll continue to make Dexron-flavored Frintstone vitamins...

[Eugene]

3. China arrests 774 in product crackdown

Source: Associated Press

China arrests 774 in product crackdown

By AUDRA ANG, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 28 minutes ago

BEIJING - China said Monday that it had arrested
774 people in a crackdown on substandard goods,
part of ongoing efforts to calm international worries
over the quality of the country's products.

The General Administration for Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine said the arrests were the
result of 626 criminal investigations nationwide into
the manufacture and sale of fake or substandard
food, medicine or agricultural products between
August and mid-October.

"All local authorities and relevant departments have
maintained a high-pressure attitude toward their
crackdown on the illegal activity of producing and
selling fake products," the AQSIQ, one of China's
main quality control agencies, said on its Web site.

"One after another, authorities have broken large-
scale cases, investigated and taken care of them,
shut down a large number of illegal hubs of activity,
effectively striking and intimidating criminals,"
it said without providing any other details.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071029/ap_on_re_as/china_tainted_products

[damntexdem]

4. Only the purest lead will be allowed in future.

No more contamination from those toys. ;-)