Society

Drug maker invests more in ads, less in cleaning

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-06-08 17:10

A pharmaceutical company has denied it polluted the environment with hydrogen sulfide claiming the emissions met safety standards on Tuesday.

The announcement by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd. (HPGC) is in response to a report by CCTV which alleged it seriously polluted the environment and violated regulations that set limits on discharges of pollutants, according to a report by China Business News on Wednesday.

Related readings:  Drug maker blamed for stench in air

It said the factory has taken measures to control pollution emissions, but the environmental workshop is currently being overhauled and some facilities are suspended leading to wastewater being discharge that can not meet standards.

HPGC also said that it had invested about 400 million yuan ($61.5 million) in cleaner production and environmental management in recent years and according to the company's annual report, it increased 19.6 million yuan in environmental improvement in 2010.

According to its annual report, the company has invested 540 million yuan in marketing in 2010, including many costly TV ads, reports China Business News.

Some nearby residents have to close their windows, even in summer, to stop the pungent odor and some taxi drivers dislike waiting for passengers there due to the smelly odor.

The HPGC's main business revenue reached 12.4 billion yuan and sales from the General Pharmaceutical Factory hit almost 5 billion yuan in 2010, its annual report 2010 said.