Students learn to dispense traditional Chinese medicinal materials under the instruction of a pharmacist in Shijiazhuang, North China's Hebei Province, Oct. 21, 2020. Lessons on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were introduced to schools across the country to welcome the annual World Traditional Medicine Day which falls on Oct. 22. (Photo by Jia Minjie/Xinhua)

Controversial articles that potentially criminalized the denigration and smearing of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were removed from the approved regulations on TCM that were released on the official website of Beijing Municipal People's Government on Wednesday.

The Regulations on Traditional Chinese Medicine of Beijing was adopted by the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress on November 27 and will take effect on May 1, 2021, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The draft of the local regulation had stipulated that defamation and slander of TCM were prohibited, and serious cases would be punished under criminal law, triggering an uproar in public opinion when the draft was released on May 29.

"TCM shall not be slandered in any way or by any act" stated Article 36 of the draft.

Article 54 of the draft stipulated that whoever denigrates or stigmatizes TCM is guilty of disturbing public order, and shall be given administrative penalties by the public security organ in accordance with the law. If the case constitutes a crime, criminal responsibility shall be investigated according to law.

Chinese netizens asked whether the articles meant they could not provide an honest evaluation or criticize the function of TCM, and questioned the involvement of criminal law. 

The head of the Beijing Administration of TCM said netizens misunderstood the draft. Following a comprehensive evaluation of public feedback and suggestions, the two controversial articles were removed from the regulation that was approved in November.

Global Times