China executed former food and drug administration chief Zheng Xiaoyu today (10 July), in a move calculated to counter corruption within the system and improve its international image.
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Mr Zheng had been found guilty in May of a dereliction of duty and taking bribes worth around CNY6.49m (US$850,000) from makers of fake drugs.
The harsh sentence is being seen as a warning to other officials, who are facing significant pressure to improve standards after a series of food and drug safety scandals that is threatening China’s reputation as a leading exporter.
“Such cases have brought shame to my administration and revealed problems,” Yan Jiang Ying, deputy director of policy and regulation at the State Food and Drug Administration, told a press conference in Beijing.
“We need to reflect on what lessons we can draw from this and how we can have more effective safety,” Ms Yan said.
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By GlobalDataChina’s food safety system has been criticised for its weak enforcement, low fines and pervasive corruption among officials.
