The recent corruption scandals swirling around the pharmaceutical industry have led to speculation that more people are involved and the national food-and-drug watchdog might have its wings clipped.

All State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) officials, incumbent and retired, have been asked to prove their innocence, reported China Business newspaper yesterday.

Those who abused power for personal gain were asked to hand in illicitly-obtained money or assets by last Friday or face harsher punishment, an SFDA insider told the newspaper.