China investigating former head of food and drug watchdog
BEIJING, May 29 (Reuters) - Bi Jingquan, former head of the now-defunct China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), is being investigated for suspected corruption, China's anti-graft watchdog said on Thursday.
Bi, a member of the standing committee of China's top political advisory body and a deputy director of its committee for economic affairs, is being investigated for suspected serious violations of law and discipline, the watchdog said, without giving details.
Reuters was not able to reach Bi for comment.
Bi, 69, holds a degree in economics from the prestigious Peking University and has served in senior positions in the National Development and Reform Commission, China's state planner, and State Council, China's cabinet.
He was appointed chief of the CFDA in early 2015, a few months before the government launched a major revamp of China's drug review procedure.
During his tenure at CFDA, Bi spearheaded efforts to simplify and expedite the review process for new drugs, and introduced steps to improve the quality of generic drugs.
In 2018, Bi resigned from the CFDA amid fallout from a major vaccine scandal.
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