Chinese policymakers on Monday enacted a revised version of the Pharmaceutical Administration Law that calls for lighter or even no punishment for the import and sale of unapproved drugs.

Under the previous law, drugs not approved by the National Medical Products Administration, or NMPA, were often considered “fake” and were heavily punished. Companies and individuals caught selling such drugs could be fined up to five times their value as well as criminally charged.

However, under the revised law, the definition of “fake drugs” no longer includes non-NMPA-approved drugs that are widely available in overseas markets. Punishment for distributing such drugs has also been reduced: If no harm is caused or no treatment is delayed, the relevant parties can be exempt from punishment; if the circumstances are “relatively minor,” the parties involved will face lighter punishment than in the past.

The revised law will take effect on Dec. 1 of this year. (Image: VCG)