Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

In 2026, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has officially launched the “Green Sword Protecting Food Security” special campaign targeting veterinary drug regulation. The campaign marks a further upgrade in supervision across the entire veterinary drug supply chain, covering production, distribution, clinical use and online sales.

Unlike previous inspections that mainly focused on veterinary drug retailers, the latest campaign expands regulatory attention to grassroots veterinary practitioners, mobile veterinary services, livestock farms and online sales channels. Through joint enforcement, risk investigations, traceability inspections and targeted crackdowns, authorities aim to improve compliance standards and eliminate illegal practices across the industry.

Industry analysts noted that China’s veterinary sector is entering a new stage of standardized and legally regulated development. Practitioners and businesses that continue outdated operating practices, ignore qualification requirements or fail to follow proper medication procedures may face penalties, corrective actions or even restrictions on business operations.

The campaign focuses on four major areas of regulatory enforcement.

First, authorities will strictly investigate unauthorized veterinary services and illegal sales of prescription veterinary drugs. According to current regulations, veterinary prescription drugs must be sold and used based on prescriptions issued by qualified veterinarians. Individuals without proper qualifications or registration are prohibited from providing animal diagnosis and treatment services.

Regulators will focus on practices such as unlicensed veterinary consultations, unauthorized prescription issuance and the sale of prescription drugs during mobile visits. Online veterinary drug sales will also face enhanced supervision, requiring sellers to disclose valid qualifications and strictly prohibiting unlicensed sales activities.

Second, illegal use of human medicines, banned substances and unregulated veterinary raw materials will face intensified enforcement. The campaign will target the misuse of human antibiotics in livestock production, sales of prohibited veterinary drugs and products without proper registration or traceability information.

Authorities emphasized that the use of banned substances, counterfeit veterinary drugs and products posing food safety risks will be handled strictly. Serious violations may result in administrative penalties or referral to judicial authorities.

Third, veterinary drug traceability systems and record management will become key inspection priorities. Under the campaign, businesses and users are required to maintain complete and accurate records covering drug purchase, sales and application processes.

Problems including missing records, falsified documentation, inconsistent invoices and products without traceability information will be subject to regulatory action. The industry is shifting from focusing only on product quality to ensuring compliance throughout the entire supply chain.

Fourth, authorities will strengthen supervision of veterinary drug use in livestock production, targeting excessive and improper medication practices. Violations such as overuse, unauthorized combinations of drugs, extended treatment periods and failure to comply with withdrawal periods will be strictly controlled.

Regulators will enhance monitoring of drug residues in animal products and hold responsible parties accountable for food safety risks caused by improper veterinary drug use.

In addition to the four major enforcement areas, the campaign will also focus on counterfeit veterinary drugs, illegally relabeled products and feed additives marketed with unauthorized therapeutic claims. Online and offline monitoring will be strengthened to improve market transparency and maintain fair competition.

Industry experts believe that the 2026 veterinary drug campaign represents a further transition toward a more regulated, transparent and quality-oriented industry. The purpose of the campaign is not to restrict legitimate veterinary practitioners or businesses, but to eliminate illegal operations, improve industry standards and safeguard animal health and food safety.

Going forward, veterinary practitioners, drug distributors and livestock producers will need to strengthen compliance management, improve qualification systems, maintain complete documentation, implement traceability requirements and strictly follow veterinary drug usage standards in order to adapt to the increasingly regulated market environment.