How much Controlled/prescription medicine can I bring into China?
Restricted
You can bring Controlled/prescription medicine into China only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Channels: Carried with the traveler, Post or courier
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
If you do not declare
- Step 1: Confiscation, Destruction
- Step 2: Criminal prosecution
Official sources
- 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条 中国政府网 国务院公报（国务院）
Questions about Controlled/prescription medicine in China
- Do I have to declare controlled/prescription medicine at China customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to China customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare controlled/prescription medicine in China?
- The goods are confiscated; the goods are destroyed. If it is treated as smuggling, it carries between 0 and 15 years of imprisonment.
- Can I post or ship controlled/prescription medicine to China instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Can I take controlled/prescription medicine out of China?
- China publishes no separate rule for taking controlled/prescription medicine out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the China limit for controlled/prescription medicine apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) states it in 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “因治疗疾病需要，个人凭医疗机构出具的医疗诊断书、本人身份证明，可以携带单张处方最大用量以内的麻醉药品和第一类精神药品；携带麻醉药品和第一类精神药品出入境的，由海关根据自用、合理的原则放行。”
- How does China compare with other countries on controlled/prescription medicine?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit controlled/prescription medicine, 18 limit it and 1 let it through. China is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 中华人民共和国海关行政处罚实施条例 (Regulations of the PRC on the Implementation of Customs Administrative Penalty) · verified 2026-09-16
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例（国务院令第442号），第四十四条 · verified 2026-09-19