Veterinary drugs fail tests, counterfeits common

Nearly 20% of veterinary drugs tested in China during the first three months of the year failed to meet required standards, the Ministry of Agriculture said Thursday. The ministry tried to add some positive spin, saying that this figure was down slightly year-on-year, but it also published a five-page list of fake or faulty products on the market, Reuters reported. The list included products claiming to be made by companies that don't exist, products that falsely claimed to have government approval, products that were banned long ago and products that were undisguised fakes. State media reported that Cao Wenzhuang, a former official at the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), had pleaded not guilty to court charges of accepting US$307,100 in bribes and dereliction of duty. Former SFDA boss Zheng Xiaoyu was sentenced to death in May for corruption.