China warns against diversion of two chemicals for narcotics production

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's anti-narcotics authorities warned companies and individuals on Tuesday to prevent two chemicals, medetomidine and tartaric acid, from being diverted into narcotics production.

A law enforcer shows samples of crystal meth in Mangshi City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, July 13, 2023. (Photo: Xinhua)

The office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission urged businesses and individuals to strictly comply with earlier warnings issued by the office while handling such substances and prevent them from entering illegal channels.

Companies and individuals should comply with Chinese and foreign laws and regulations when dealing in or exporting these chemicals, the office said.

The warning is the latest move in China's intensified efforts to prevent chemicals with potential applications in illicit drug production from being diverted into illegal channels.

In May, the office issued a warning covering eight other chemicals, following relevant notices issued in August 2019, November 2023 and November 2025, underscoring continued efforts to guard against the diversion of sensitive chemicals for illicit drug production.

China has also expanded its controls over narcotic and psychotropic substances. From July 1, 16 additional non-medicinal narcotic and psychotropic substances have been brought under control. Following the move, China has placed 412 types of non-medicinal narcotic and psychotropic drugs, as well as the entire categories of fentanyl-related substances, synthetic cannabinoids and nitazene-related substances under control.

In November 2025, it also added 13 types of precursors for fentanyl-related substances to its export control list and applied country-specific measures to the United States, Mexico and Canada. In May 2026, three additional types of fentanyl-related precursors were added to the list applicable to those three countries.

Authorities have also stepped up enforcement against the illegal trafficking of precursor chemicals and other sensitive substances. Since 2025, police had cracked 29 criminal cases involving such materials, arrested 157 suspects, and seized 720 kg of drugs, 1.3 tonnes of new psychoactive substances, 0.9 kg of stimulants and 27.7 tonnes of non-scheduled precursor chemicals, the Ministry of Public Security said in May.