China's drug safety watchdog on Thursday vowed to crack down on the sale of counterfeit drugs and urged local authorities to strengthen inspection on drug retailers.

"Some bogus drugs whose names or packages look like brand-name drugs were found in the market and misleading the consumers," said Yan Jiangying, spokeswoman with the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA).

"Each medicine in China has a registered number of state approval; those without registered numbers can not be taken as drugs," Yan said.

Yan also urged local drug authorities to severely punish any illegal operation selling counterfeit drugs.

"For cases of gross violation, the retailer's drug business license should be canceled," Yan said.

SFDA issued a notice last December asking local health and drug safety administrations to reinforce the supervision and inspection of drug retailers.

Last December, China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine also blacklisted 74 websites for selling fake Chinese herbal medicine.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2009)