China finds no 'human flesh capsules', promises further probe

BEIJING - China's health authorities said Tuesday that medications made of human remains were not found in the country, but they will further investigate the matter.

Deng Haihua, spokesman with the Ministry of Health, made the remarks in response to media reports that so-called "health capsules" made with aborted fetuses were smuggled into the Republic of Korea from China.

Health departments launched investigations into similar media reports last August and found no proof, Deng said at a press conference here.

Health departments will work with police, customs agencies and commerce authorities to investigate the claims made by Korean media and inform the press as soon as there are results, he said.

Deng insisted that China has strict rules on the disposal of the remains of dead infants, aborted fetuses and placentas, which are categorized as human remains and banned from being disposed of as medical waste.

Medical institutions and their staff are forbidden to trade human remains, including placentas, he added.