Drug safety watchdog probes medicine wholesalers

Six companies have been found "seriously violating the law and regulations" in a recent surprise inspection conducted on medicine wholesalers, according to a statement released by China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) on Friday.

Violations of the six companies based in Jilin and Shaanxi Provinces include storing drugs from unknown origin, fabricating locations of offices and warehouses and others, said CFDA

Among the six illicit operators, two companies, which were caught illegally selling medicine with Codeine in 2014, lost their operating permits while the other four were ordered to suspend business.

The authorities have also revoked the certificates of Good Supply Practice for Pharmaceutical Products of the six wholesalers.

The CFDA has required its local units to strengthen supervision and continue to initiate surprise checks on drug wholesalers within their jurisdictions and release inspection results to the public in time.