Chinese lawmakers are debating the third draft of a new law on vaccine administration.

Producers and sellers of fake or substandard vaccines will be subject to heavier punishment, including increased fines. Companies will face fines of up to 50 times the value of the produced or sold fake vaccines, according to the latest draft.

The previous draft, released in April, stipulated a fine of up to 30 times for such offenses.

Wang Dongming, vice-chairman of NPC Standing Committee said, "The drafting of the law is in response to the public's call. It imposes harsher penalties on offenders. I vote in favor of passing the draft."

The vaccine administration law was drafted and submitted to the top legislature for first review in December, following a major vaccine scandal involving Changchun's Changsheng Bio-tech Co., a major vaccine producer in northeast China's Jilin Province.

The new draft says executives and staff responsible for producing or selling fake vaccines will have their salaries during the period of legal violations confiscated, and additional fines of up to 10 times the income levied.

They will also be banned from the industry for life and subject to detention for up to 15 days, in addition to possible criminal charges if they violate criminal law, according to the draft.

NPC Deputy Wen Xiuling runs a local hospital in north China's Hebei Province. She said the administration of vaccine safety at the grassroots level is vital to people's health.

"The draft is a wake-up call for all vaccine producers. We should enhance all supporting measures to make sure of its implementation," Wen said.

In addition to harsher punishment, the latest draft also includes amendments such as allowing companies to authorize others to produce vaccines under approval of the National Medical Products Administration and improving transparency and public information about the vaccines to be sold.

The draft will be put to vote on Saturday.