China bear-bile producer focus of controversy

(Ecns.cn) – Guizhentang Pharmaceutical, a Fujian-based company that produces traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from bear bile, has been confirmed of its membership in the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Thursday, and is now mired in a cloud of suspicion nationwide, according to the 21st Century Business Herald.

On February 16, 2012, in response to questions raised by reporters at a news conference, Fang Shuting, head of the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, denied Guizhentang was a member of the association. But less than six hours later, the association clarified the company is linked to its official site.

This has added to the outcry against the company's listing attempt. Guizhentang is expected to use the funds raised by an initial public offering (IPO) to expand the size of its farm and the number of its bears, media reported.

Accusations being investigated

Since Guizhentang's plan to list publicly was reported in 2011, the company has been inundated by vociferous criticism.

On February 1, 2012, a full list of applicants for IPOs was released under the call for better securities transparency, which then sparked an outcry from those who believe Guizhentang turns a large profit selling bear bile.

With the case drawing wide public attention, more than 70 Chinese celebrities signed a petition opposing Guizhentang's application for its IPO in Shenzhen, because the company is known to produce medicinal powders using bile extracted from the livers of living Asian black bears, which in their eyes is cruelty to animals.

Meanwhile, Internet users and animal lovers have launched a series of strong and graphic accusations about Guizhentang's methods of extracting the bile from live bears, despite the company's claims that it uses humane "no tube" drainage methods, according to China Daily.

Under such circumstances, the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine has stood up for Guizhentang on several occasions, attempting to clear up misunderstandings about its means of bear bile extraction.

On February 16, after the news conference when the association corrected Fang Shuting's statement about the relationship between the company and itself, the public was reminded of the previous controversy wherein the Animals Asia Foundation exposed photos of a rescue operation where some black bears being held for bile extraction were released from the crush of their small cages.

Fang pointed out the association is still working on data and information from a number of sources to offer solid confirmation or denial of the Animals Asia Foundation's statement.

Fang: no pain, zero discomfort

For many years, the practice of extracting bear bile for medicinal purposes has been opposed by animal rights activists from around the world. Opponents say the bears are subjected to a crude surgical procedure that leaves permanent wounds in their abdominal walls and gall bladders, causing serious diseases and even death, said China Daily.

On Tuesday, the Beijing Loving Animals Foundation delivered a letter to the China Securities Regulatory Commission to oppose its IPO listing on the grounds that the company had violated animal rights.

However, according to Fang Shuting, too many misunderstandings about the process of extracting bear bile are prevalent and being circulated by the media and the public.

At the news conference on February 16, Fang noted that the cruel practices for which Guizhentang is being vilified existed over 20 years ago, but extraction techniques have already improved substantially in the meantime.

Currently the process of extracting bear bile takes only about 10 seconds. During that short period, the bears feel no pain or any strange sensations, and can immediately return to playing and eating as usual, added Fang.

To earn everyone's trust, Fang has even invited the media to pay a visit to a bear farm so that they can see the process for themselves. Fang is confident that at least he knows all the bears to look healthy and comfortable after the procedure, based on his observations at the farms.

Questionable points

Even as Guizhentang defends the current techniques as ensuring the continuing health and comfort of live black bears, many confusing facts still cloud the issue.

According to statistics released by the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), China has only approved of two types of medicines made from bear bile – powders and capsules, but Guizhentang has more than 30 kinds of products made from the treasured liquid. Among them, healthcare products such as bear bile tea and gallbladder-invigorating tea have no documented approval from the SFDA.

In fact, the Ministry of Health stopped approving healthcare products made from bear bile as of September 14, 2001, so many of the products made by Guizhentang may be in blatant violation of the law.

However, Fang Shuting reiterated that bear bile is used in traditional medicine in China and other Asian countries because it is thought to have health benefits and presently there are no known good synthetic replacements for it.

Gao Xuemin, professor with the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, said it is necessary to limit the production of healthcare products made from bear bile, asserting there is no good reason to think highly of bear bile in terms of its medicinal functions, according to a report published by Netease.

In 2006, China had 68 registered bear farms where about 7,000 black bears were used as sources of bile, according to statistics from the State Forestry Administration. The number of bear farms had increased to 98 by 2011, and Animals Asia Foundation estimates that by then about 20,000 black bears were kept for bile extraction.