Guangdong to blacklist firms for food, drug offences

Authorities in southern China's Guangdong province are tightening the control over food and drug enterprises by setting up a blacklist, which will be made open to the public from Oct 1, Nanfang Daily reports.

Those enterprises which had been suspended to rectify or had their documents of permission revoked, or which had led on consumers with illegal advertising plots, will be included in the blacklist.

The blacklist will also provide detailed information on the company's basic information, illegal activities and punishment, as well as the name of the person in charge.

If a certain product is involved, its name, batch, identification, approval number and production license will be published on the internet.

Once blacklisted, the company will remain on the blacklist for two years if no other rules apply.

Local authorities are also pledging to invest more energy to update the blacklist, to check on the companies more frequently and unexpectedly.

Once a company on the blacklist commits inappropriate behaviour again, the company will receive a harsher punishment, even being banned from the business.