China steps up probe into contaminated drug capsules

 　　BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- More inspection¹ teams have been sent to investigate the incident of contaminated drug capsules and find out those held responsible, said the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) Saturday.

　　Inspection teams from several departments, including the police, health authorities and supervision² agencies, have been sent to Zhejiang, Hebei and Jiangxi provinces to supervise the investigation³ of the case, said a statement from the SFDA.

　　China Central Television (CCTV) reported last Sunday that several companies have been manufacturing drug capsules with industrial gelatin, which contains a greater amount of chromium than edible⁴ gelatin and can be toxic⁵ if ingested in excessive amounts. It named several medications that have been packaged in the contaminated capsules.

　　In response to the report, the SFDA ordered 13 medications produced by nine pharmaceutical⁶ companies named in the TV report to be suspended from distribution and use until they are cleared by a lab analysis.

　　An overhaul⁷ has been carried out on the production of drug capsule makers⁸, pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of gelatin for medical use, the statement said.

　　Those who refuse to cooperate in the investigation and try to cover up malpractice will be severely⁹ punished, the statement said.

　　Supervision agencies have started investigation into officials who might have neglected their duty in this case, it added.` The SFDA also promised to timely inform the public the development of the investigation.

　　Chinese police have detained 53 suspects and closed 10 industrial gelatin and gel capsule factories believed to have been involved in producing contaminated medicine capsules, said the Ministry¹⁰ of Public Security in a Thursday statement.

1 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

2 supervision   

n.监督，管理

参考例句：

• The work was done under my supervision.这项工作是在我的监督之下完成的。
• The old man's will was executed under the personal supervision of the lawyer.老人的遗嘱是在律师的亲自监督下执行的。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 edible   

n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的

参考例句：

• Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
• This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得，那种吃不得。

5 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

6 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

7 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

8 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。