Guide Note
On July 10, 2007, China executed the former head of its State Food and Drug Administration, Zheng Xiaoyu. In late May of 2007, Xiaoyu was convicted on charges of taking bribes and dereliction of duty. He had reportedly accepted over $850,000 in bribes to approve over 100 drugs of poor quality, one of which, an antibiotic named Xinfu, was responsible for at least 10 deaths.
Fast Facts
- Born: December 21, 1944
- Zheng was head of China's State Food and Drug Administration from 1998 to 2005
- Zheng had become a symbol of China's tarnished reputation on product safety
- Zheng's deputy, Cao Wenzhuang, was also sentenced to death, but was granted a two-year reprieve
- China is the world's largest exporter of consumer goods
Harsh Penalties
Even though China carries out more court-ordered death sentences than all other countries combined, Zeng's sentence was still considered harsh and was carried out unusually quickly. The execution was seen by many as a signal from Chinese officials that they are addressing their shoddy record for exporting unsafe goods. After Zheng was exposed, the government pledged to review an estimated 170,000 medical licenses awarded during his tenure and has vowed to improve their safety standards.
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