China mulls fine for fake vaccine results

Chinese vaccine manufacturers who falsify test results or break other rules could be fined up to $720,000 (Dh2.6 million) under a new law proposed after a scandal that fulled public fears over domestically made medicine.

The law would regulate areas including production, distribution and use of vaccines, according to a draft posted Sunday on the website of China’s market regulator.

The country was earlier this year rocked by a scandal that saw a manufacturer of rabies vaccines fabricating records.

While authorities say the affected vaccines did not enter the market, the case provoked outrage from consumers fed up with recurring product safety scandals, particularly in pharmaceuticals.

Under the proposed law, those who flout the rules can be fined up to 5.0 million yuan for offences including submitting false test results, not recalling problematic batches and “other serious illegal acts”.