China-9 People arrested for meat offences.

CHINA-ARRESTS FOR MEAT OFFENCES.

Southern China’s Guangzhou city police arrested nine people for selling pork tainted with clenbuterol in an investigation spurred by 70 cases of poisoning linked to the banned chemical, Xinhua News Agency said.

The police are seeking six more people on the same charge of producing and marketing substandard or harmful food, which carries a maximum prison term of five years, state-run Xinhua reported, citing a statement from the city police.

Guangzhou, a manufacturing hub near Hong Kong, reported 70 cases of clenbuterol poisoning beginning Feb. 18, according to the news agency, which said it had no more details on the condition of those who had fallen ill.

Clenbuterol, a chemical that makes pigs leaner, can be fatal to humans, according to the report.

bloomberg.com