China's top drug regulator said on Tuesday it will significantly increase supervision over COVID-19 nucleic acid testing agencies following several reports of fraud.

The National Medical Products Administration said in a notice released on its website that it will severely punish any institutions found to be operating without certificates, violating regulations on equipment storage and shipment, or using substandard or expired testing kits.

Local drug regulators are required to conduct regular inspections on testing agencies, with a focus on the source of testing products, manufacturing regulations, quality control and monitoring.

Agencies that are found to have violated relevant regulations or cannot ensure the efficacy and safety of products will be suspended immediately and ordered to recall their products.

In recent weeks, several testing companies in Beijing have reportedly committed frauds by taking such actions as intentionally misplacing specimens.