October 29, 2007

China arrests producers of fake PRRS vaccines

China authorities have arrested producers of fake vaccines responsible for an outbreak of the blue-ear pig disease in central Hubei Province, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Agriculture said on Sunday (October 28, 2007).

A stock farm in Jiangling county of Hubei purchased a batch of vaccine for the blue-ear pig disease in June through an illegal channel from Beijing, which resulted in an outbreak of the deadly pig epidemic, causing nearly RMB 1 million (US$ 133,690) in losses, the spokesperson said.

Investigations showed that the vaccines were fake products which did not bear a production licence and came from a non-existent company.

Beijing police smashed three workshops that made the fake vaccine, seizing a large amount of products, equipment and raw materials, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the suspects will face criminal charges.

As of Aug 22, the blue-ear pig disease, also known as Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, had infected 257,000 pigs in 26 Chinese provinces, of which 68,000 died.