BEIJING - The proportion of judicial authentication agencies in China with less than five staff members has dropped to 28.1 percent, thanks to stricter access requirements, regulation, and supervision of the industry, the country's Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced Saturday.

The proportion of agencies with more than 20 staff members has risen to 12.3 percent, the ministry said.

More than 78 percent of the personnel in the judicial authentication industry hold a bachelor's degree or above, and about 16 percent graduated with a master's degree or above.

Stricter policies have been launched by the MOJ since the end of 2017, with harsher punishments for agencies and staff members violating the law and regulations, which have effectively regulated the judicial authentication industry, the ministry said.