China Fights Against On-line Sales of Illegal Drugs     

China's food and drug watchdog has vowed to intensify crackdown on on-line illegal drug sales to enforce its supervision of Internet-based drug distribution.
    Shao Mingli, Director of State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), revealed on January 31st, 2008 that SFDA will cooperate with other departments and administrations in striking on-line illegal drug selling.
    According to the administration, there are only five authorized on-line drug outlets. Two are in Beijing, and the others are in Liaoning and Shandong provinces and Shanghai.
    In China, the Internet has been used as a platform for illegal drug sales due to its purchasing convenience, low cost and consumer-to-consumer characteristics.
    Accordingly, the supervision departments at all levels warned consumers to consult with their doctors before buying medical products or medicine over the Internet. They should also refrain from buying from unauthorized websites, and to take care in giving information about their bank account numbers and codes on-line.