On July 21, 2025, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission, and the National Medical Products Administration jointly issued an announcement. According to the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Management Regulations and the Methods for the Control of Non-medical Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, adjustments have been made to the existing Narcotics Catalogue, Psychotropic Substances Catalogue, and the Supplementary Catalogue of Controlled Varieties of Non-medical Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances. A new edition of the Catalogue of Non-medical Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances has been formulated and has taken effect immediately, with the original Supplementary Catalogue of Controlled Varieties of Non-medical Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances being simultaneously abolished. This catalogue, first issued in 2015, has undergone several additions and revisions since.
Key Updates in the Catalogue:
Significant Expansion of Regulatory Scope
The new edition of the catalogue covers 396 individual varieties and three major categories of substances, including:
- 91 varieties split from the 2013 edition of the Narcotics Catalogue;
- 74 varieties split from the 2013 edition of the Psychotropic Substances Catalogue (no longer distinguishing between Class I and Class II psychotropic substances);
- 231 varieties integrated from the original supplementary catalogue (including Etizolam, previously controlled as a non-medical narcotic and psychotropic substance, now adjusted to the Psychotropic Substances Catalogue) and three major categories: fentanyl-related substances, synthetic cannabinoids, and nikethamide.
Scientific Standardization of Chemical Information
- Based on the rules of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the names in Chinese and English, CAS numbers, and remarks of substances were uniformly revised;
- The catalogue's annotations were improved to make the descriptions more accurate and standardized.
Stringent Control Measures
Comprehensive Prohibition Activities: Prohibits any unit and individual from producing, buying, selling, transporting, using, storing, and importing or exporting the substances listed in the catalogue.
Strict Control of Exceptions: Only allows the use of standard/reference substances for scientific experiments and drug testing, subject to special approval and strict regulatory compliance.
High-Pressure Crackdown on Illegal and Criminal Activities: Law enforcement agencies and relevant departments at all levels will strengthen the crackdown on illegal and criminal activities involving non-medical narcotics and psychotropic substances.
The implementation of the new catalogue marks a crucial step towards the scientification and refinement of China's drug prohibition system. By integrating 396 substances and three major categories for control, including fentanyl-related substances, synthetic cannabinoids, and nikethamide, the system eliminates regulatory blind spots and blocks loopholes for new types of drugs. By adopting international standards (IUPAC) for uniform chemical naming, it provides an authoritative basis for precise law enforcement. This measure, through dynamic monitoring and rapid response mechanisms, weaves a tight drug prevention network, fully safeguarding public health and safety and social stability.
Further Information
