Will another official from the Chinese Food and Drug Administration be executed? The latest scandal involves Zhang Jingli, 55, a deputy director of State Food and Drug Administration since 2003, who is being investigated by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, The Shanghai Daily reports. Jingli was recently dismissed for unspecified disciplinary violations.

For those who may not recall, China executed Zheng Xiaoyu, the former head of its FDA, for approving untested medicine in exchange for cash. During his tenure, the agency approved six meds that turned out to be fake, and drugmakers had used falsified documents to apply for approvals (background). After that embarassing episode, China placed its FDA under the jurisidication of the Ministry of Health, although the move apparently has not produced the desired result.

What prompts us to make such a remark? A few months ago, five of Zhang’s former colleagues and subordinates were arrested on suspicion of taking bribes and another official was ordered to stay at home pending results of the investigation. Once again, China’s FDA shows signs that it may be incapable of fulfilling its watchdog function. We can hear the axe grinder now.