On November 10, 2025, the Office of the China's Narcotics Control Commission issued the Notice on Preventing the Diversion of Substances and Non-Scheduled Chemicals and Equipment Used in Drug Manufacturing, aiming to strengthen the control of substances used in drug production in accordance with the law.
The Notice comprises thirteen articles, addressing relevant laws and regulations including the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, the Narcotics Control Law of the People's Republic of China, the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, and the Regulation on the Administration of Precursor Chemicals. It covers provisions related to crimes involving substances used in drug manufacturing, complicity in drug manufacturing, tax evasion crimes, smuggling crimes, online information release, as well as anti-money laundering and foreign exchange management regulations. It also specifies requirements for postal enterprises, courier enterprises, logistics enterprises, international freight forwarding enterprises, and other units and individuals regarding the prevention of illegal activities involving substances used in drug manufacturing. The Notice serves to remind relevant enterprises and individuals to comply with national laws and regulations when conducting business activities, further standardize the production, trading, transportation, import, and export of scheduled and non-scheduled chemicals and equipment used in drug manufacturing, prevent their diversion into illegal channels, mitigate overseas legal risks, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens as well as social stability.
The main contents are as follows:
- The illegal production, trade, or transportation of acetic anhydride, ether, chloroform, or other raw materials or reagents used in drug manufacturing, or carrying such items into or out of China, is strictly prohibited. It is strictly prohibited to produce, trade, or transport the items mentioned in the preceding paragraph while knowingly assisting someone in drug manufacturing.
- Knowingly producing, selling, transporting, or importing/exporting non-scheduled chemicals or equipment used in drug manufacturing for others who intend to use them for the illegal manufacture of drugs will be treated as complicity in drug manufacturing crimes.
- Enterprises producing or selling non-scheduled chemicals and equipment used in drug manufacturing must fulfill tax obligations according to law. Tax evasion will be pursued and recovered by tax authorities; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability will be pursued according to law.
- Evading customs supervision, evading payable taxes, circumventing state prohibitions or restrictions on imports/exports, or transporting, carrying, or mailing goods or items prohibited or restricted from import/export, or goods/items subject to taxation according to law, constitutes smuggling. Customs will confiscate the smuggled goods/items and illegal gains, and may impose fines; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability will be pursued according to law. False declaration to customs regarding imported/exported goods/items or goods in transit/transshipment may result in fines, and illegal gains will be confiscated.
- Network operators should strengthen information management. Upon discovering information whose release or transmission is prohibited by laws or administrative regulations, they must immediately stop transmitting the information, eliminate the records, and report to the relevant competent authorities.
- Enterprises or individuals producing or selling non-scheduled chemicals and equipment used in drug manufacturing must comply with anti-money laundering, foreign exchange management, and other relevant regulations. Violators will face administrative penalties or criminal liability.
- Units producing, selling, transporting, or importing/exporting non-scheduled chemicals and equipment used in drug manufacturing are encouraged to maintain relevant records and copies of licenses or certification documents. If downstream buyers are suspected of criminal activity, transactions should be stopped immediately and reported to local public security organs or relevant competent authorities according to law.
- Any unit publishing sales information for non-pharmaceutical precursor chemicals on the internet must possess the required qualifications, such as a business license, production/trading license, or filing proof for non-pharmaceutical precursor chemicals. Individuals are prohibited from publishing sales information or advertisements for non-pharmaceutical precursor chemicals on the internet.
- When exporting non-scheduled chemicals and equipment that have both legitimate uses and can be used for drug manufacturing, close attention should be paid to international conventions and the laws and regulations of relevant importing countries, particularly high-risk countries like the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Overseas clients should be required to complete import legal procedures according to their national laws and regulations.
- If a unit or individual knowingly sells, transports, or exports non-scheduled chemicals and equipment to a country, in accordance with that country's laws and regulations, while being aware that the items are controlled under that country's regulations, they may face criminal charges or sanctions from that country's law enforcement agencies.
- Postal, courier, and logistics enterprises that discover illegal mailing or transportation of precursor chemicals or other raw materials/reagents for drug manufacturing domestically or internationally should immediately report to public security organs or customs according to law and cooperate with investigations.
- International freight forwarding enterprises should truthfully declare goods names, purposes, etc. Those providing transportation, storage, mailing, or other facilitation for the smuggling of non-scheduled chemicals or equipment used in drug manufacturing will be held legally responsible according to law.
- If relevant units or individuals encounter foreign law enforcement agencies exercising their authority illegally, they may fully utilize legal means to protect their safety and legitimate rights and interests and seek assistance from Chinese embassies or consulates abroad.
Further Information
