Food fraudsters to be prosecuted

The mislabeling and sale of regular food as organic produce will be defined as fraud and the perpetrators will be punished, according to a draft regulation issued by the China Food and Drug Administration.

Both the products and any profits generated will be confiscated by the food and drug authorities, while the main culprits will be subject to fines ranging from 10,000 yuan ($1,450) to 30,000 yuan, according to the draft, which was open to public consultation until last week.

A number of other activities, such as using recycled or out-of-date materials to produce food or promoting products by exaggerating their health benefits, will also be punishable, the draft said.