The revised law removes drugs that are unapproved in China but sold legally overseas from the category of fake medicines. /VCG Photo

The revised law removes drugs that are unapproved in China but sold legally overseas from the category of fake medicines. /VCG Photo

China on Monday approved a revision in drug laws that will no longer treat legal foreign drugs, including generic drugs from India, as "fake medicines," allowing for greater leniency to people importing such drugs in small amount.

China's top legislature, the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, Monday adopted the revised drug administration law, which will come into effect from December 1 this year.

The revised law removes drugs that are unapproved in China but sold legally overseas from the category of fake medicines. According to the previous laws, people caught importing unapproved medicines were considered "drug smugglers" and faced heavy penalties.

The latest revision states that people who take these drugs without an official approval into China can be granted leniency if the amount of the drug is small. They will be exempt from punishment if the drug does not cause health problems or delay anyone's treatment.

The move is seen by some analysts as a sign of China opening up its market to cheaper generic medicines, especially from India, following the immense popularity of the movie "Dying to Survive" last year which highlighted the need for affordable medicines in China.

The Xu Zheng-starrer Chinese black comedy is based on the real-life case of a Chinese leukemia patient-turned-drug dealer who was jailed for smuggling a cheaper alternative from India and selling it to fellow Chinese patients who couldn't afford the exorbitantly priced official medication.