China FDA stops online med sales
Updated: 2016-08-02 08:00
By Meng Jing(China Daily USA)
|
|||||||||
Industry watchdog says that consumers' interests could not be well safeguarded
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has ceased online sales of medicines on its Tmall platform as the government tightens its control over the country's nascent e-pharmacy industry.
Tmall, the business-to-consumer site of Alibaba, told its online vendors that the site will stop the online sales of medicines as of August 1, citing changes in government regulation.
Tmall said in a statement that it will "adjust its business model based on the new regulation in order to provide better service to customers within the law".
The change of regulation put an end to China's trial of selling drugs products directly to consumers via online third-party platforms. The change of regulation does not apply only to Tmall. Other e-commerce companies involved in selling drugs on third-party platforms, such as Yhd.com have also received the same ban.
A news report posted on the official website of China Food and Drug Administration said that "it is unclear which party (the e-commerce site or the online vendors) should take responsibility when drug products are sold online via third-party platforms".
"It is difficult to monitor the quality of drug products sold this way and it is not possible to protect the interests of consumers and ensure safe usage of drugs. Therefore, we decided to end the trial operation", said the report.
Analysts said that the regulation will not significantly hurt Tmall's medicine business, as only an estimated 20 percent of its sales are drug products. The other 80 percent are health products and medical equipment.
"However, the regulation is a setback for the country's online pharmacy industry," said Lu Zhenwang, an independent internet expert and chief executive officer of the Shanghai-based Wanqing Consultancy.
"Many of China's brick-and-mortar drug chains are allowed to sell medicine to consumers directly online. But they are too small to make a big impact," he said.
mengjing@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily USA 08/02/2016 page16)
- Not for the faint-hearted: Glass bridge opens in Hunan
- Geneticist defends his groundbreaking technique
- Activist jailed for subversion, harming national security
- New Hainan port opens as annual fishing ban ends
- From hunting wild fruits to satellite dishes: Life of Myanmar returnees
- World's first panda-themed subway line runs in Chengdu
- From dusk to dawn: The other side of Beijing
- Huangluo: China's 'long hair village'
- Typhoon Nida lashes Shenzhen
- Amazing robots work hard at Qingdao beer fest
- Chinese swimmers 'test the water' in Rio
- Amazing night view of Kaifeng in Henan province
- In pics: Women soldier carrying the flag
- Rough and tough world of soldiers' training
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
US launches airstrikes against IS targets in Libya's Sirte
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to meet Kerry
Chinese stocks surge on back of MSCI rumors
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |