China NMPA Drug Inspection - Sichuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces: Cicada molting

The Sichuan Provincial Drug Administration issued an announcement on October 22, 2019, detailing findings from its 2019 drug sampling inspection program. This initiative, conducted by drug supervision departments across various cities and prefectures, aimed to ensure compliance within drug production, distribution, and use units throughout 2019. The inspections identified 23 batches of non-compliant drugs from various manufacturers, including Jilin Wantong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Changchun Yinnuoke Drug Industry Co., Ltd., and Sichuan Yunbotang Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., among others. Violations primarily involved deviations from national drug standards and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Common issues included non-conformance in drug appearance, excessive moisture content, presence of mold and yeast, discrepancies in packing quantity, improper content determination of active ingredients, and issues with acid-insoluble ash or other properties. In response to these findings, the regulatory authorities have mandated immediate actions. Affected enterprises are required to suspend sales and use of the non-compliant products, initiate product recalls, investigate the root causes of the non-conformities, and implement comprehensive corrective measures to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements. This enforcement action underscores the administration's commitment to upholding drug quality and patient safety within the region.