Internet companies will be blamed and punished if they know food and medicine sold on their websites have problems or receive consumer complaints, a new judicial interpretation said.

Shoppers who are harmed by food or medicines sold online can sue the Internet companies first if the companies do not provide the manufacturer's contact information, the Supreme People's Court said in an interpretation issued on Thursday.

If online companies are aware the food and medicine makers are using the Internet companies' websites to harm consumers but do not take measures, both parties will assume joint liability, the interpretation said.