The Supreme People's Court says it is ready to hand down death sentences to serious offenders in 'gutter oil' cases in a bid to crack down on the rampant use of recycled cooking oil by restaurants and food processors.
A notice issued jointly by the top court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday said the authorities would intensify the crackdown on the production, sale and use of gutter oil.
'Courts must give full consideration to suspects' malignancy, the amount of money involved and the harm done to the public and the market when ruling in gutter oil cases. For those deserving death, death penalties must be resolutely given,' the notice said.
Harsh punishment should also be given to officials who failed to check the menace, it said.
The mainland launched a nationwide campaign last year to clamp down on the illegal manufacture and sale of gutter oil- often recycled from restaurant leftovers.
Xinhua said 134 people were arrested for producing and selling gutter oil in Shandong last year. Nineteen have been prosecuted so far, with 12 government officials fired for negligence.