Ex-food and drug chief executed

The Supreme People's Court executed former State Food and Drug Administration head Zheng Xiaoyu, 62, on charges of taking US$855,094 in bribes from eight pharmaceuticals companies, the Financial Times reported. Zheng's swift execution after initial trials in May underlines the government's growing concern with product safety in the country. Supervision of food and drugs in China "started late and our foundation for this work is weak," said Yan Jiangying, an SFDA spokesperson. The government is currently rotating food and drug officials in an effort to prevent them to get too close to companies. As head of the SFDA, Zheng had allowed the sale of fake gall bladder medicine that led to at least five deaths.