Eight officials dismissed in China over pork scandal

Eight officials from China's Jiangxi province were dismissed for dereliction of duty with regard to sale of unsafe pork from dead or sick pigs, local authorities said.

The officials, who were dismissed Sunday night, belonged to the animal husbandry and commerce departments, Xinhua reported.

A recent report by China Central Television said pork from dead and sick pigs from Jiangxi were suspected to have entered the market in at least seven provinces with an annual sales revenue of more than 20 million yuan ($3.3 million).

So far, authorities have sealed a slaughterhouse, destroyed an illegal slaughtering site and detained 12 suspects.