China enforces 2025 pharmacopoeia to tighten drug supervision

The 2025 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China officially came into effect on Wednesday, marking a major step of the country in strengthening drug quality and safety oversight.

As the core of China's pharmaceutical standards system, the pharmacopoeia serves both as a "protective wall" safeguarding public medication safety and a "compass" guiding the development of the country's pharmaceutical industry.

The 2025 edition is divided into four volumes covering traditional Chinese medicine, chemical drugs, biological products, pharmaceutical excipients and packaging materials, as well as general technical requirements. A total of 6,385 products are now listed, an increase of 159 new entries and 1,101 revisions compared to the previous edition. In addition, 69 new general technical requirements were introduced and 133 updated, while 33 new guiding principles were added and 17 revised.

"Regarding the inclusion of varieties, we have focused on enhancing coverage of items listed in the National Essential Medicines List and the National Reimbursement Drug List. This time, the number of general technical requirements and guiding principles added or revised accounts for about 55 percent of the total, further improving drug quality controllability," said Shu Rong, secretary-general of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission.

As the fundamental benchmark for pharmaceuticals in China, the pharmacopoeia sets the minimum threshold for market entry. Under the Drug Administration Law, medicines whose ingredients do not match the prescribed standards are classified as counterfeit, while those that fail to meet specified content requirements are deemed substandard.

"Starting from October 1, drug prescriptions in China, as well as registration applications, production processes and inspections related to active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, and packaging materials, must all comply with the new edition of the pharmacopoeia," said Xu Miao, chief expert at the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC).

China enforces 2025 pharmacopoeia to tighten drug supervision

Beijing marked China's 18th National Fitness Day on Saturday with a range of sporting activities, including the launch of a series of sports events and a three-day sports carnival, showcasing the capital's enduring sports legacy as the host of both the 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Olympics.

China's 18th National Fitness Day, which falls on Saturday this year, saw numerous sports events taking place simultaneously across the metropolis.

The opening of the 17th Beijing Municipal Games, a sports carnival, and the 17th Beijing Olympic City Sports and Culture Festival are taking center stage one after another, fully unleashing the sporting vitality through a diverse array of sporting events, consumer activities, and cultural experiences.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Beijing's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, and the city has launched a sports consumption season.

Nearly 60 sports brands have gathered in Beijing's Olympic center area, bringing more than a dozen top-tier international sports event IPs.

The three-day sports carnival seamlessly integrates match watching, interactive experiences, and shopping.

"The National Fitness Day is taking on a variety of forms. We can experience GT racing, racing culture, trendy sports culture, and even related merchandise in person," said Lin Yue, an Olympic champion.

The 17th Beijing Municipal Games and the Third Beijing Winter Games also opened Saturday at the National Stadium.

Featuring three categories of youth, college and general public, the event has set new records for both the number of participants and the range of sports, catering to sports enthusiasts of all ages and providing ordinary citizens with a professional platform to showcase their athletic abilities.

On the same day, the 17th Beijing Olympic City Sports and Culture Festival kicked off at the Beijing Olympic Museum.

Beijing marks National Fitness Day with sports carnivals, various games