(Yicai Global) Jan. 23 -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has set up a laboratory able to quickly spot-check food products listed on its online marketplace Tmall, as part of the tech behemoth's efforts to reduce the sale of fakes on the platform.

Hangzhou-based Alibaba will only allow merchants to sell health-care foods and dietary supplements, as well as other products on Tmall, if they pass tests undertaken at the new AliHealth Lab, ChinaNet cited Huang Bihai, director of the facility, as saying.

The lab uses a range of detection instruments including ultraviolet spectrophotometers to run rapid tests for microorganisms, pesticide residue, and illegal additives. Alibaba will expand its capabilities in the future.

The company has already run tests on some products sold on AliHealth's pharmacy on Tmall with only qualified products going on sale. Huang said they will consider using the lab to spot check products from other merchants and sectors in the future.