Bioethics Crisis in China

A series of food and drug quality issues worldwide has finally prompted action on the part of regulators in China, where the tainted products originated. Poisonous medicine in Panama, tainted pet food in North America and toothpaste in Central America, are only three examples of improper preparation, handling or other shortcomings in the production processes in the Chinese food and drug industry. The growing list of food and drug items has lead to a bioethics crisis of unprecidented proportions, in the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration, as government regulators try to weed out corruption and restore their reputation.

The problem of tainted or fake pharmaceuticals and foods has touched both internally-sold and exported products. The issue has been ongoing for more than three years and has resulted in a significant number of human deaths worldwide, including Chinese children injected with contaminated medicines and infants fed fake powdered milk.

China announced on July 11, 2007, that it will crack down on unregulated small food processing plants that are re-using ingredients, and using improper additives and banned substances. However, they continued to support exports to other countries insisting on the quality of food exports. In recent weeks Chinese authorities have also banned several drugs for containing tainted ingredients or being sold under false claims.

The former chief of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu, was executed July 11 for accepting bribes that lead to approval of fake drugs and the deaths of a number of Chinese citizens. A former department head, Cao Wenzhuang, was also sentenced to dealth on July 6 for accepting bribes and approving substandard drugs, and another officer has also been convicted of similar crimes. At the same time, several pharmaceutical firms had their licenses withdrawn.

Issues of quality control, public safety and trust, and reliability of raw materials from other firms, are just some of the reasons for international standards and participation in programs such as ISO Certification.