In China, the deputy director of the State Food and Drug Administration, Zhang Jingli, has been dismissed, state media reported on Sunday.

Zhang Jingli is now under investigation for “disciplinary violations.”

The move comes after the former head of the drug agency Zheng Xiaoyu was executed in 2007 for taking bribes to approve faulty medicine that was blamed for several deaths.

The State Food and Drug Administration regulates food, cosmetics and drugs in China and is under direct control of the State Council.

Zhang assumed his post at the drug agency in 2003.

Faulty medicines and products are common in China.

Last year a faulty rabies vaccine was recalled from the market and in 2008 tainted milk products sickened thousands of children and led to several deaths.