Chinese pharma firm faces toxin probe

Published: 18-Apr-2013

Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Company claims lower levels of heavy metals than limits set by regulator


China’s Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Company has been trying to protect its reputation after being subjected to an inquiry about potential toxins in its flu medicine.

The company has confirmed that Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Food and Drug Administration has been investigating claims that its manufacture of a Vitamin C, honeysuckle and forsythia tablet, YinQiaoPian, has been contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic.

The company now claims that tests by the regulator have shown that the ‘heavy metals and sulphur dioxide levels are lower than the limits set by the [Chinese] State Pharmacopoeia Commission’ and that there have been no ‘serious adverse reaction reports’ from patients.

In the meantime, the company said it had implemented ‘100% recall measures to ensure the safety of the public’, arguing that this showed a ‘spirit of a highly responsible attitude to consumers’. It also promised to ‘fulfill the duty of disclosure of information’ to shareholders.

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