Illegal Trade of Human Placentas Thrives in China

Sold openly on major online shopping malls, made into capsules for sale
Due to false information claiming health benefits... Many people seek it despite being illegal

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Chinese media reported that fetal placentas, which are strictly prohibited from being traded in China, are being traded on the black market.

In China, in 2004, the sale of placenta dishes at a hotel in Harbin city caused a huge uproar across the Chinese mainland. Chinese health authorities stipulated in 2005 that the placenta after delivery belongs to the mother, and if the mother abandons the placenta, medical institutions must handle it. In 2013, the sale of placentas by medical institutions and their staff was strictly prohibited.

According to Chinese media such as Pengpai and Global Times on the 16th, placentas discarded at Chinese hospitals, funeral homes, and medical waste disposal sites are being illegally traded, and even processed and sold at high prices.

Pengpai reported that discarded placentas in Hunan Province, Hubei Province, Anhui Province, and other areas are being sold for 80 yuan (about 14,000 KRW).

Dried human placentas are being sold illegally. Photo by Global Times Capture

Pengpai stated that despite the commercialization of human placentas being banned for several years, placentas are still being traded on the black market. The media added that despite the risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus, placentas are openly traded illegally.

Regarding illegal placenta trading, the media reported that human placentas are being sold on some shopping websites, including Alibaba’s second-hand trading platform, Xianyu. The media pointed out that placenta sellers on shopping websites do not use the word “placenta” but use ambiguous names to sell their products.

Global Times confirmed that placentas are being sold on Xianyu for 360 yuan and that discounts are offered for bulk purchases. It added that placentas are sold at 2,000 yuan per kilogram.

The media reported that some Chinese people believe placentas are nutritious and good for elderly health. Some mothers even take the placenta home to eat it themselves.

There are also cases where placentas are processed and sold as capsules. Global Times cited a person working in the placenta-related industry expressing concern that placenta capsule processing has already become a business in China.

A placenta processor in Zhejiang Province said, “Since placenta trading became illegal, it has become difficult to obtain placentas,” but added, “The demand for placentas remains strong.”

A doctor at a hospital in Hunan Province explained the edible history of placentas, saying, “In ancient traditional Chinese medicine, human placentas were used to boost immunity or treat asthma and bronchitis.” He warned that human placentas are not a cure and can be infected with infectious diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis B.

Global Times emphasized that illegal placenta trading is still rampant in China and called for strengthening crackdowns on illegal trading. It also urged revising medical waste management regulations, which currently impose fines up to five times the illegal profits, to impose fines up to 50 times the illegal profits.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.