CFDA berates Johnson & Johnson

The China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) said it held a serious talk with US personal care product giant Johnson & Johnson Thursday in the wake of the company's latest product recalls over quality concerns.

Johnson & Johnson's frequent recalls of drugs and health-related products are an indication of a potential defect in its quality management system, said the CFDA.

Recall is a must for drug manufacturers operating in China whenever quality defects are discovered, said the statement, which noted that drug makers have to launch simultaneous recall actions in China whenever they announce global recalls.

The US company has reportedly initiated at least 51 worldwide product recalls since 2005, but has so far only announced six public recalls for China's market.