Research and development of biological products in China.

There are six large production institutes of bio-logicals in China. The Kunming Institute of Medical Biology is the largest primate center, specializing in the production of live poliomyelitis vaccine and recently, of live hepatitis vaccine as well. All these institutes have research laboratories of their own which are engaged in the improvement of existing products and development of new ones. The National Institute for Control of Phamaceutical and Biological Products, created in 1951, is responsible for the direction of laboratories located in each production institute, for the testing of natively produced as well as imported biological products and for the preparation and issuing of national standards. Three additional bodies managed directly by the Ministry of Public Health are: Office for the Review of Drugs (including biologicals), Committee for Standardization of Biological Products and Office for Supervision of Drugs. These together consistiute the regulatory system in China.