The Chinese government on Monday unveiled a revised regulation on the supervision of medical equipment in a bid to enhance its safety and effectiveness and safeguard public health.

Under the new rule, which comes into effect on June 1, medical equipment in China will be divided into three categories based on the potential health risks they might pose for the public. High-risk equipment will be placed under stricter control by the authorities, it said.

Those who manufacture or operate unregistered high-risk medical equipment, or manufacture or operate it without official endorsement will have their illegal gains, production apparatus and materials confiscated. They could face fines of up to 20 times as much as the value of the equipment, as well as criminal charges.