The Beijing-based China Sexology Association (CSA), a nonprofit
organization for promoting "healthy reproductive knowledge", is
being investigated for allegedly profiting from business
activities, a source from the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said
yesterday.
The law enforcement department of the civil society
administration bureau under the ministry is handling the case, an
anonymous worker with the administration told China Daily.
Beijing's Legal Evening News reported on Tuesday that the
association operated its own businesses and worked with other
companies to make money.
The association is also suspected of setting up a committee of
experts to endorse products related to reproductive health, the
newspaper said.
The paper added that at a sex culture festival in Guangzhou last
month, the association reportedly sold copper plates bearing its
name to retailers of reproductive health products for up to 600
yuan ($83) each.
A worker with the sexology association, who also asked to remain
anonymous, said: "We welcome the authorities coming to investigate
and are willing to cooperate fully. Officials from the MCA were
here earlier."
He said the association's "daily operations were
unaffected".
The association has already submitted a report on the issue to
the MCA and the Ministry of Health, the source said. He said it has
"never run businesses or violated regulations" and that "the truth
will be come out after the investigation".
The CSA, founded in 1994 to carry out research on sex and to
promote healthy reproductive knowledge, is registered as an
academic society with the MCA, and as such is prohibited from
running businesses.
(China Daily January 18, 2008)