China NMPA Drug Inspection - Anhui Jucao Traditional Chinese Medicine Pieces Co., Ltd. - Qianhu

On April 29, 2020, the Henan Provincial Drug Administration released an announcement identifying 15 batches of substandard drugs discovered during its annual sampling and inspection program. The inspections covered various production, distribution, and medical use units across the province. Key manufacturers listed in the findings include Anhui Zehua Guoyao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Hubei Jurui Traditional Chinese Medicine Pieces Co., Ltd., and Bozhou Lier Traditional Chinese Medicine Slices Co., Ltd., although several companies denied producing the specific batches attributed to them, suggesting potential counterfeiting. The primary violations involved failures to meet standards set by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 Edition). Specific issues included excessive pesticide residues in Ginseng, high levels of acid-insoluble ash, and insufficient active chemical content in several herbal medicines. Notably, one batch of Corydalis yanhusuo tested positive for Auramine O, a prohibited substance. In another case, the quality failure of Arborvitae Seeds was attributed to improper storage by the distributor rather than the manufacturer. Under the current regulatory framework, the Henan Provincial Drug Administration has ordered local departments to enforce immediate risk control measures. This includes suspending the sale and use of the affected products and initiating mandatory recalls. Furthermore, the involved enterprises must investigate the root causes of these quality failures and undergo formal legal investigation and rectification to ensure future compliance.