Earlier this month, a batch of Antarctic krill oil products from Beijing Tongrentang was reported to be suspected of fraud. On Thursday (December 25), China’s State Administration for Market Regulation responded, stating that the incident exposed issues such as non-standard practices in enterprises’ commissioned production and processing. Authorities will strengthen the supervision of food production entrusted through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) processing and similar methods like Tongrentang’s brand labeling. In the near future, a special inspection will be organized, intensifying supervision and sampling of krill oil, fish oil and similar products in the market.
On December 11, the Shanghai Consumer Council announced via its official WeChat account that a product labeled as “Beijing Tongrentang 99% High-Purity Antarctic Krill Oil,” advertised on the web as “high content,” “Chilean imported raw materials,” “highly purified,” and “one capsule ≈ 100 krill,” with a phospholipid value marked at 43% and seemingly of premium quality, was found through testing to contain zero phospholipids.
The Consumer Council reported that, in response to the alleged fraud by the relevant companies and in order to protect consumers’ legitimate rights and interests, it “will soon interview the product’s manufacturer, Anhui Habo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and the distributor, Beijing Tongrentang (Sichuan) Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., requiring them to explain the true situation regarding the product.”
On December 15, Beijing Tongrentang stated via the “Tongrentang Health Member” WeChat account that this product used the “Beijing Tongrentang” logo without authorization and in violation of law, and that the company had initiated legal proceedings to sue the involved company.
On December 15, Beijing Tongrentang stated via the “Tongrentang Health Member” WeChat account that this product used the “Beijing Tongrentang” logo without authorization and in violation of law, and that the company had initiated legal proceedings to sue the involved company.
Later, The Paper reported that the product singled out by the Shanghai Consumer Council was specifically named “Antarctic Krill Oil Gel Candy,” with the distributor being “Beijing Tongrentang (Sichuan) Health Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.” and the manufacturer as “Anhui Habo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.” Both producers and distributors were interviewed on December 15.
On Thursday, Tongrentang announced that following the incident, a working group led by senior management had been set up to fully take over the management of the Sichuan Health company. The company ordered Sichuan Health Company’s general manager, Li Shengyi, to resign, and suspended all other related management staff. According to conclusions from government regulatory authorities and internal investigations, further serious action will be taken against responsible personnel.
On the same day, in response to the “Antarctic Krill Oil” incident, the State Administration for Market Regulation pointed out that the case revealed problems such as irregularities in companies’ commissioned production and processing. Some companies, leveraging their brand influence, only focus on sales profits without controlling product quality, or even tolerate their contractors in producing and selling substandard products.
On Thursday, Tongrentang announced that following the incident, a working group led by senior management had been set up to fully take over the management of the Sichuan Health company. The company ordered Sichuan Health Company’s general manager, Li Shengyi, to resign, and suspended all other related management staff. According to conclusions from government regulatory authorities and internal investigations, further serious action will be taken against responsible personnel.
On the same day, in response to the “Antarctic Krill Oil” incident, the State Administration for Market Regulation pointed out that the case revealed problems such as irregularities in companies’ commissioned production and processing. Some companies, leveraging their brand influence, only focus on sales profits without controlling product quality, or even tolerate their contractors in producing and selling substandard products.
The Administration introduced that in the near future, it will issue the “Administrative Measures for the Supervision of Entrusted Food Production,” bringing trademark licensing, franchising, processing with supplied materials, and customized production—all forms of entrusted food production—under supervision and management, clarifying and detailing the food safety responsibilities of both contracting parties, and improving relevant regulatory requirements.
The Administration will also guide local market regulatory authorities to strengthen supervision of food production behaviors involving OEM processing and similar methods, as with Tongrentang. In the near term, authorities will conduct special inspections to intensify the sampling and supervision of krill oil, fish oil and related products in the market, strictly cracking down on illegal acts.