According to a report released by the China Health Care Association (CHCA) last Thursday, 767 out of the 2,951 health supplements produced by 2,025 businesses have no or use unauthorized production permit numbers or unauthorized product names.
The report added that more than one fourth of the Chinese health supplements currently available are not officially authorized or carry false information on their packaging and marketing collateral.
Another 267 supplements are suspected to have the same issues and remain to be investigated, the report said.
The report was based on a survey conducted from June 2004 to March this year of pharmacies, supermarkets and health food franchise stores in more than 300 cities and counties across the country.
Supplements for weight loss account for 193, or the biggest portion of the 767 fake products, followed by those for improving the immune system, and for beautification.
"These fake health supplements are produced using false or production license numbers belonging to other businesses. (This is done instead) of counterfeiting famous brand names," said Zhu Kangnian, CHCA's secretary-general.
However, Zhu added, "They don't heavily promote (their products) and hardly advertise. So, customers can avoid being cheated by choosing well-known brands instead."
In Beijing alone, 97 businesses were found to be producing 68 types of fake health supplements.
Zhu said the CHCA will work closely with the government to crack down on irregularities in the market.
Last Wednesday, Hui Lusheng, deputy director of the State Food and Drug Administration, said that the first draft of China's Food Safety Law has been completed. The new law is widely regarded as a major step forward for China in regulating its food and supplements market by introducing harsher rules.
According to the report, China had authorized 3,829 businesses to produce 6,009 kinds of health supplements by the middle of 2004, but only 1,823 businesses are still in operation producing some 1,917 products.
(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)
