Penalties of up to life imprisonment can be given to those who produce or sell medical supplies, including surgical masks and goggles, that fail to meet national standards amid the fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) outbreak, said a recent issued by Chinese authorities.
The notice on punishing criminal activities that go against the prevention and control of the NCP was jointly issued by departments including the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Those convicted of producing or selling shoddy medical equipment shall be punished with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and confiscation of all personal property, it said.
During the fight against the NCP outbreak, producing and selling masks that fail to meet standards certainly violate the Criminal Law, Pan Ziqiang, an assistant judge in Shanghai, told the Legal Daily.
Pan said that taking advantage of people's panic and market demand during the epidemic, stocking and selling masks for high prices for profits have seriously disrupted the market order. Those who violate rules will be given a heavier punishment if their illegal income amount is large.
