China to set up inspection teams to ensure drug safety

China will set up specialized inspection teams of pharmaceutical professionals at central and provincial levels to tighten the supervision and regulation of drug safety, including medical equipment and cosmetics.

Authorized by drug regulatory authorities, the inspection teams will, in accordance with the law, check whether the sites and activities for the research and manufacturing of drugs are up to standards, while evaluating their risks, according to a statement from the General Office of the State Council Thursday.

A system of such inspection teams at central and provincial levels will be established by the end of 2020, the statement said.

More efforts should be put into the building of inspection teams for vaccines and other drugs that are apt to pose risks, and inspections in this field should be further intensified.

China's top legislature passed a law on vaccine administration in June, requiring a whole-process supervision system and strengthening penalties on related violations. The law will go into effect on Dec. 1, 2019.