Draft law takes aim at fake drugs

Stronger penalties proposed to curtail falsification, substandard products

People who produce and sell medicines illegally in China could face heavier penalties under a draft amendment to intensify supervision to protect public health.

Companies that produce or sell pharmaceuticals without a permit, or that produce or sell fake drugs, will face fines up to 30 times the value of the products involved, according to the draft amendment to the Drug Management Law. Existing law provides for fines of up to five times the value.