Q: I plan to travel to Shanghai for about 10 days and will be carrying Concerta, which contains methylphenidate, a Category I psychotropic substance in China. Could you please advise what documentation, if any, I will need?

A: Please note the following regulations on medications carried by travelers entering or leaving China:

1. Personal medications that do not contain narcotic or psychotropic substances may be carried in reasonable quantities for personal use, subject to customs supervision.

2. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are regulated as both medicines and controlled substances. They must be used strictly as prescribed and in accordance with relevant regulations.

Under China's Regulations on the Administration of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, individuals who require such medications for medical treatment must present:

• A medical diagnosis certificate issued by a medical institution;
• A valid identity document, such as a passport.

Travelers may carry narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic substances within the maximum quantity permitted under a single prescription. Customs authorities will clear such medications based on the principles of personal use and reasonable quantity.

3. For Category II psychotropic substances, the prescribed quantity may be extended where appropriate. Travelers are advised to carry the medication together with relevant supporting materials, such as prescriptions, medical records, or diagnostic certificates, and proactively declare it to customs officers at the port.

4. Medical personnel who need to carry small quantities of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances for medical purposes must obtain a certificate for carrying narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances issued by the drug regulatory department of a people's government at or above the provincial level. Customs will clear the medications upon presentation of the certificate.

For the purposes of these regulations, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances refer to drugs and other substances listed in China's catalogues of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Psychotropic substances are classified into Category I and Category II.

What do 'personal use' and 'reasonable quantity' mean?

According to China's current prescription management rules:

• Prescriptions for injectable narcotic drugs and injectable Category I psychotropic substances are limited to a single dose.
• Prescriptions for other formulations of narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic substances may not exceed a three-day supply.
• Prescriptions for controlled-release and sustained-release preparations of narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic substances may not exceed a seven-day supply. When methylphenidate is used to treat ADHD in children, each prescription may not exceed a 15-day supply.

Source: Shanghai Customs