China's Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday 81 percent of the veterinary drugs tested in the first quarter were up to standard, but acknowledged that underground dens are continuing to produce and sell fakes.

The 81 percent figure is 6 percentage points higher than the same period last year but still not satisfactory. The illegal production and sale of fake veterinary drugs remains a concern, the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

The ministry found 98 percent of veterinary drugs tested at recognized production sites were qualified. But the proportions for products ready for sale or ready for use were much lower -- 77.1 percent and 71.3 percent respectively.

It said illegally produced fakes were still showing up at distributors and end-users.

On the list of 86 problem drugs identified by the ministry, 35 drugs were made by companies that don't exist, 23 were imitations and seven were crude fakes.

Other drugs were either produced with false claims of government approval or had been banned long ago.

The ministry said it would issue a new regulation at the end of the year to beef up controls on the sale of veterinary drugs, and would set up an information database about all veterinary drugs to enable better supervision.

It also vowed to continue its efforts in production quality management and to continue to fight the production and sale of fake veterinary drugs.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)