To: The competent authorities of Forestry and Grassland, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Drug Administration in all provinces, autonomous regions, and centrally-administered municipalities; the Health Commission and Forestry and Grassland competent authorities of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; and the Inner Mongolia Forest Industry Group:
In order to effectively strengthen the protection and management of pangolins and fulfill the obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Law and other relevant regulations, the following requirements are hereby notified:
I. Raise Political Awareness and Consolidate Primary Responsibility
All levels of Forestry and Grassland, TCM, and Drug Regulatory competent authorities must further raise political awareness and deeply understand the critical significance of strengthening pangolin protection and management, dividing tasks and cooperating closely. In accordance with the division of responsibilities, Forestry and Grassland departments are responsible for pangolin resource protection and management; TCM competent authorities are responsible for the management of pangolin scale clinical use in TCM hospitals; and Drug Regulatory departments are responsible for supervising the production and sales of medicines that use pangolin scales.
II. Strengthen Protection Research and Encourage Technological Breakthroughs
Further intensify efforts in the protection and management of pangolins and their habitats. Strengthen the protection and restoration of pangolin habitats, scientifically carry out pangolin rescue operations, promptly release rescued pangolin individuals back into the wild, and make every effort to maintain a stable-to-increasing trend in wild pangolin populations. Deeply understand the distribution range, population structure, habitat area and quality, major threat factors, and artificial breeding status of wild pangolin populations in their respective regions. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration Pangolin Protection and Research Center (hereinafter referred to as the “Pangolin Center”) shall timely announce the effectiveness of pangolin protection efforts. Intensify the construction of the Pangolin Center, establish pangolin artificial breeding bases and germplasm resource banks, jointly carry out key scientific research on artificial breeding technologies for pangolins, and strive to achieve substantial progress in artificially bred pangolin populations. Encourage and support scientific research institutions, hospitals, and pharmaceutical enterprises to jointly conduct research on pangolin scale substitutes.
III. Intensify Supervision and Strictly Manage the Use of Pangolin Scales in Medicine
Adhering to the principle of “saving resources, and strict and tight control,” strictly manage the use of pangolin scales in medicine and reasonably compress consumption volume.
- Provincial Forestry and Grassland, TCM, and Drug Regulatory competent authorities shall jointly conduct a baseline survey on the utilization of pangolins to ascertain the status of pangolin artificial breeding institutions, pangolin scale inventory, and the usage and procurement/sales of pangolin scales by TCM hospitals and pharmaceutical enterprises in the last three years in their provinces/regions. They shall register and catalogue the verified information and ensure that the primary responsibility of inventory holders is implemented.
- Strictly control the annual consumption of pangolin scales, generally limiting it to approximately 1 ton. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration, together with the NATCM and the NMPA, shall study and implement allocation measures. Provincial Forestry and Grassland departments shall fulfill their administrative licensing duties based on the allocation measures.
- Provincial Forestry and Grassland departments must strengthen supervision and verification of legal pangolin scale inventory holders within their provinces, and update the quantity of pangolin scale inventory in a timely manner based on administrative licensing circumstances. Provincial TCM and Drug Regulatory competent authorities must strictly supervise hospitals and pharmaceutical enterprises utilizing pangolin scales within their jurisdiction. All units shall handle illegal and non-compliant behaviors seriously and in accordance with the law, and resolutely put an end to the misuse of pangolin scales.
- Pangolin scales and their products seized by law enforcement are strictly limited to non-commercial activities such as scientific research, judicial enforcement, and public welfare publicity. The use of pangolin scales and their products from other illegal or unknown sources is strictly prohibited.
- Commercial import and export of pangolins and their products shall continue to be suspended. The inclusion of pangolin yin-pian (decoction pieces) in the scope of medical insurance shall continue to be suspended, and no new medicines containing pangolin ingredients shall be added to the scope of medical insurance.
IV. Strengthen Division of Labor and Severely Crack Down on Crime
All levels of Forestry and Grassland departments must fully leverage the coordinating mechanism for joint wildlife law enforcement, and together with departments such as Cyberspace Administration, Public Security, Transportation, Customs, Market Supervision, Railway, Civil Aviation, and Postal Service, organize and carry out joint law enforcement and supervision actions. They shall strengthen supervision and inspection according to the division of responsibilities, resolutely combat and severely punish illegal activities such as poaching pangolins, destroying pangolin habitats, interfering with pangolin breeding, and illegally selling, purchasing, utilizing, transporting, carrying, mailing, importing, or exporting pangolins and their products. They must strengthen full-chain supervision across all links, especially intensifying law enforcement inspections on online platforms, commodity trading markets, catering establishments, and ports. Strictly verify the source of pangolin scales, resolutely destroy illegal trade channels, smash criminal dens and gangs, severely punish criminals in accordance with the law, and continuously maintain a high-pressure stance.
V. Broadly Conduct Publicity and Create a Favorable Atmosphere
All levels of Forestry and Grassland departments must actively coordinate with Publicity and Cyberspace Administration departments to leverage various publicity channels, including expert interpretation, thematic activities, public service announcements, and exposure of negative examples. They must mobilize the active role of social organizations, public welfare organizations, and volunteers to popularize legal knowledge regarding pangolin protection. They should establish and improve a system for rewarded reporting, encouraging the public to provide leads on various issues concerning the destruction of pangolin and other wildlife resources, consciously resist illegal behaviors, and create a new landscape of joint protection of pangolins by the whole society.
This is hereby notified.
National Forestry and Grassland Administration
National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
National Medical Products Administration
November 13, 2024
