China issues alert on "chromium-contaminated" capsules
Updated: 2012-04-16 02:22
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
BEIJING - China's drug watchdog issued an emergency notice late Sunday night to suspend the selling and consumption of a list of capsules with reported excessive chromium contamination.
Earlier Sunday, a report run by the China Central Television (CCTV) revealed that several commonly used drugs were packed into capsules made from industrial gelatin, which contains a much higher degree of chromium than edible gelatin.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has instructed its local bureaus to investigate the cases and examine the drugs mentioned in the report, said the SFDA notice.
The Chinese Pharmacopoeia sets a clear standard for capsules and requires drug makers only to purchase capsules from manufacturers with appropriated drug-making licenses, said the notice.
It also noted those drug makers will face due legal consequences if the examination results fail to meet the standards.
Last week, an unconfirmed report said that industrial gelatin may have been used in the production of solid yogurt and puddings, but was soon dismissed by major dairy producers.
Today's Top News
President Xi confident in recovery from quake
H7N9 update: 104 cases, 21 deaths
Telecom workers restore links
Coal mine blast kills 18 in Jilin
Intl scholarship puts China on the map
More bird flu patients discharged
Gold loses sheen, but still a safe bet
US 'turns blind eye to human rights'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
All-out efforts to save lives |
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Poultry industry under pressure |
'Spring' in the air for NGOs? |
Boy set to drive Chinese golf |
Latest technology gets people talking |