China Issues New Compliance Guidelines for Online Veterinary Drug Sales

On September 8, 2026, the China Veterinary Drug Association (CVDA) issued the “Compliance Guidelines for the Online Distribution and Purchase of Veterinary Drugs” following a public consultation. Designed to bring structure and accountability to the fast-growing e-commerce market, these non-binding guidelines establish clear self-regulatory standards for distributors, platforms, and buyers operating in China.

By defining clear roles across the supply chain, the CVDA aims to combat counterfeit products, tighten prescription controls, and improve trace-and-track transparency using advanced digital tools.

What Do China's New Veterinary Drug Online Sales Guidelines Cover?

The Compliance Guidelines for the Online Distribution and Purchase of Veterinary Drugs were developed based on China's E-Commerce Law, Personal Information Protection Law, Regulations on the Administration of Veterinary Drugs, Veterinary Drug Distribution Quality Management Practices, Measures for the Administration of Veterinary Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs, Internet Advertising Management Measures, and other relevant regulatory documents.

The guidelines apply to three groups involved in China's online veterinary drug market:

• Online veterinary drug distributors
• E-commerce platforms providing online veterinary drug transaction services
• Veterinary drug purchasers.

The guidelines provide a detailed framework for online veterinary drug compliance in China, covering:

• Seller qualifications
• Product approval and labeling
• Prescription veterinary drugs
• Traceability
• Advertising
• Logistics
• Platform oversight

The guidelines also encourage the use of AI, big data, IoT, electronic signatures, trusted timestamps, and other digital technologies to improve compliance management, risk identification, and traceability.

Key China Veterinary Drug Compliance Requirements for Online Sellers

The guidelines establish detailed compliance expectations:

1. Maintain Valid Veterinary Drug Licenses and Sales Authorization

Online veterinary drug sellers must hold the required licenses, operate within their licensed scope, and maintain valid authorization for online sales.

• Manufacturers: Hold a Veterinary Drug Manufacturing License and sell only products they manufacture themselves with valid veterinary drug approval numbers.
• Distributors: Hold a Veterinary Drug Distribution License, operate within their licensed scope, and obtain online sales authorization from the relevant manufacturer.
• All sellers: Display qualification documents prominently on their online storefronts and stop sales if their qualifications expire, become invalid, or are revoked.

2. Verify Product Registration and Labeling

Veterinary drugs sold online must have valid Chinese regulatory approval. For imported veterinary drugs, this means holding a valid Imported Veterinary Drug Registration Certificate.

Online product information must match the labels and package inserts approved by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). Sellers may not change labels, package inserts, trademarks, or product names without authorization or make claims beyond approved therapeutic effects or indications.

The guidelines specifically identify unapproved imported veterinary drugs and imported products without Chinese-language labeling as compliance risks.

3. Control Sales of Prescription Veterinary Drugs

Online sellers must clearly identify products that require a veterinary prescription and complete the required prescription checks before sale.

The process includes:

1. Obtain the required veterinary prescription.
2. Review the prescription before completing the sale.
3. Retain prescription documentation as required.

Prescription veterinary drugs may not be sold without a compliant prescription unless otherwise permitted by applicable regulations.

4. Maintain Traceability and Sales Records

Sellers must maintain purchase and sales records covering:

• Generic and trade name
• Dosage form and specification
• Batch number
• Manufacturer
• Quantity
• Transaction date
• Purchaser information

The Guidelines also require that quality management archives be kept for no less than two years Records and supporting documents must generally be retained until one year after product expiry. For veterinary biological products, records must be retained for two years after expiry.

Sellers must also accurately and promptly upload inbound and outbound inventory information to the national veterinary drug traceability system. Selective or false reporting is prohibited.

How E-Commerce Platforms Must Manage Veterinary Drug Compliance

The new guidelines place significant responsibility on e-commerce platforms operating in China's veterinary drug market.

Strengthen Veterinary Drug Seller Qualification Checks

Platforms should verify sellers' Veterinary Drug Manufacturing Licenses or Veterinary Drug Distribution Licenses during onboarding and conduct ongoing qualification checks.

Platforms should prevent sellers from operating where they:

• Lack the required qualifications
• Operate outside their licensed scope
• Have invalid qualifications
• Use another party's credentials

Non-compliant stores should be removed.

Verify Online Veterinary Drug Product Information

Platforms should establish systems to verify:

• Seller qualifications
• Licensed business scope
• Veterinary drug approval numbers
• Imported Veterinary Drug Registration Certificates
• Approved labels and package inserts
• Target animals and indications
• Chinese labeling
• Restricted or prohibited products

Platforms are also encouraged to connect seller systems with national veterinary drug databases and traceability systems to improve automated verification.

Increase Online Veterinary Drug Risk Monitoring

The guidelines promote an "online monitoring + offline verification" approach.

Platforms should monitor online stores, livestreams, product listings, and promotional content for:

• Unlicensed sales
• Counterfeit or substandard products
• Unauthorized prescription drug sales
• False or exaggerated advertising
• Prohibited products

Depending on the violation, platforms may remove listings, restrict products, suspend livestreams, close stores, or block transactions.

Veterinary Drug Advertising, Storage and Transportation Requirements

The guidelines also address how veterinary drugs are promoted, stored, and transported through online sales channels.

Control Online Veterinary Drug Advertising

Online sellers must not:

• Exaggerate therapeutic effects
• Make claims beyond approved indications or target animals
• Use fabricated cases or testimonials
• Mislead purchasers

These requirements extend to online stores, livestream commerce, short-video platforms, and other digital marketing channels.

Platforms are encouraged to monitor veterinary drug advertising and verify advertising approval information where applicable.

Maintain Appropriate Storage and Transportation Conditions

Veterinary drugs must be transported under conditions consistent with their approved labels and package inserts.

For products requiring special storage or transportation conditions, sellers should monitor factors such as:

• Temperature and humidity
• Cold-chain status
• Location
• Transportation time
• Packaging integrity

Where deviations occur, sellers should issue warnings, take corrective action, and retain records of the incident and its handling.

Digital Technology and Veterinary Drug Compliance in China

The guidelines encourage companies and platforms to use AI, big data, IoT technology, electronic signatures, trusted timestamps, and automated rules engines to improve online veterinary drug compliance.

For sellers, digital management systems should be capable of linking information across the product lifecycle, including:

Qualifications → Product approval → Procurement → Incoming inspection → Storage → Transportation → Prescription review → Sales → Adverse reactions → Recalls → Traceability

Systems should also be capable of identifying risks such as:

• Expired qualifications
• Sales outside the licensed scope
• Prohibited products
• Missing or invalid prescriptions
• Inconsistent batch numbers
• Abnormal traceability codes
• Expired products
• Unusual inventory

However, the guidelines make clear that technology cannot replace the legal responsibilities of sellers or platforms. Where professional judgment is required, companies should maintain human review, authorization procedures, and mechanisms for human intervention.

What the New Guidelines Mean for Foreign Veterinary Drug Companies in China

For foreign veterinary drug companies selling veterinary medicines online in China, the guidelines provide a useful framework for reviewing existing sales and distribution arrangements.

Check Imported Veterinary Drug Registration and Labeling

Confirm that products sold online have the required Chinese regulatory status, including a valid Imported Veterinary Drug Registration Certificate where applicable.

Packaging, labels, package inserts, and online product information should all match the approved information.

Review Distributor Qualifications and Authorization

Companies should also review the qualifications and authorization arrangements of their online distributors. Distributors must operate within the scope of their veterinary drug distribution licenses and obtain appropriate manufacturer authorization for online sales.

This documentation may become increasingly relevant during platform onboarding and ongoing qualification checks.

Assess Online Sales Compliance Processes

Foreign veterinary drug companies should assess whether their online sales processes cover:

• Prescription review
• Veterinary drug traceability
• Purchase and sales records
• Product information management
• Advertising controls
• Storage and transportation requirements
• Online sales authorization

Final Thoughts

Although these guidelines serve as an industry self-regulatory standard rather than mandatory legislation, their detailed provisions will likely dictate how major e-commerce platforms evaluate sellers and vet products. Foreign companies should look beyond the document's formal legal status and focus on its practical impact.

Conducting a thorough audit of current sales channels, product documentation, distributor agreements, and digital compliance workflows will help identify regulatory gaps before platforms begin enforcing stricter compliance checks. To navigate this shift, Cisema offers comprehensive regulatory interpretation and gap analysis for the new guidelines. We evaluate and verify that imported veterinary drug registrations and Chinese labeling meet every requirement, while guiding you through the finer details of prescription protocols, product disclosures, and full data traceability.

For support with navigating China's online veterinary drug regulations and ensuring full compliance, contact Cisema today.

Further Information

Explore Cisema's services for veterinary drug registration in China.

References

Compliance Guidelines for the Online Distribution and Purchase of Veterinary Drugs