Debate flares over artificial bear bile

BEIJING - Traditional Chinese medicine experts disagree on whether natural bear bile can be replaced by artificial bile, raising questions about the need for companies that have bear farms to collect the liquid.

Guizhentang Pharmaceutical, one of China's largest bear bile medicine producers, announced plans in early February to have an initial public offering of stock in the company to raise funds that would finance an expansion of its bear farm and production.

The company opened its bear farm to reporters on Wednesday and Friday in an effort to rebut accusations that the operation was cruel to animals.