China NMPA Drug Inspection - Hebei Meikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Origin: Hebei) - Prepared licorice

On October 27, 2021, the Hebei Provincial Drug Administration released Drug Quality Bulletin No. 3, detailing the outcomes of its 2021 supervision and sampling inspection plan. The report identifies two specific pharmaceutical companies whose products failed to meet quality standards. Shaohuatang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was cited for a batch of Poria cocos (batch 200716) that failed appearance testing. Hebei Meikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was also cited for a batch of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (batch 20200106) that failed appearance standards due to insect infestation.

These inspections, carried out by municipal food and drug testing centers in Tangshan and Qinhuangdao, targeted manufacturers, distributors, and medical users. Operating under the regulatory framework of the Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, authorities have taken immediate control measures, including the sealing and seizure of the substandard batches.

The Administration has ordered local regulators to investigate and prosecute the manufacturers for producing and selling substandard drugs. Required actions include implementing risk control measures and making the results of these investigations public within three months. Additionally, authorities must trace the source of any suspected counterfeit products and refer cases involving criminal suspicion to public security departments for legal prosecution.