[photopress:it_fake_medicine.jpg,full,alignright]China has blocked 23 websites for false advertising of drug-based products and selling drugs illegally as part of a sustained campaign against such advertising.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said the sites either sold counterfeit drugs or publicized false, exaggerated or misleading information regarding cures for various ailments.
China had ordered closure of 51 websites earlier this year for carrying illegal drug advertisements.
All the cases for the sites, most disguised under the names of certain hospitals or medical institutions, were transferred to the former Ministry of Information Industry for punishment.
The former Ministry of Information Industry ordered relevant Internet access service providers to make sure these sites would not be reconnected to the web in future, according to the SFDA. The administration also warned the public to be alert and avoid falling victim to similar websites.
For several months China has run an advertising campaign against illegal drug ads to tighten its supervision. Earlier this year, the country’s authorities ordered the closure of 51 websites found to be carrying illegal drug adverts.
There are many who would wish that in this area the China standard would extend internationally.
Source: Economic Times