More than 2,000 websites illegally sell drugs

More than 2,000 Chinese websites are suspected of illegally selling drugs, prompting stricter government supervision of Internet drug sales, authorities said on Wednesday.

Among the websites, 194 domestic sites were ordered to close down by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Another 609 sites hosted overseas will not be allowed to operate on the Chinese mainland, and 1,391 websites will be dealt with by provincial drug watchdogs in accordance with the law, according to the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).

Government departments are drafting rules to step up supervision of online drug sales, said Li Guoqing, director of the CFDA's department of drug and cosmetics sales supervision.

Li said at a press conference that the draft rules will be open to public comment.

Online drug vendors must be approved by authorities and they may only sell over-the-counter drugs at present, he said, adding that prescription drugs and drugs containing ephedrine are prohibited in online sales.

"Online sales of prescription drugs will be allowed only after electronic prescription platforms and other matching mechanisms and services are established," Li said.

The director vowed severe penalties for violators.