Key facts
- Bi Jingquan, former head of the China Food and Drug Administration, was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
- Bi accepted over 57 million yuan ($8.49 million) in money and assets from 1995 to 2025.
- He accepted bribes to help entities and individuals with business operations, administrative approvals, and project settlement.
- Bi was appointed chief of the CFDA in early 2015.
- He resigned in 2018 amid a major vaccine scandal.
A Chinese court sentenced Bi Jingquan, the former head of the now-defunct China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for bribery. The court in Shandong province stated that Bi illegally accepted more than 57 million yuan ($8.49 million) in money and assets between 1995 and 2025. These bribes were accepted in various senior roles, including his tenure as CFDA head and as a senior official in the State Council. The court found that Bi accepted the bribes to assist entities and individuals with matters such as business operations, administrative approvals, and project settlement. Bi was appointed chief of the CFDA in early 2015, and during his time, the administration advanced efforts to simplify drug review processes and improve the quality of generic drugs. He resigned in 2018 following a major vaccine scandal. Bi admitted guilt and expressed remorse in court.