{
  "id": "medical/controlled-meds-declare-customs",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler they can bring any personal medication into China without checking",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(china.*medication|china.*medicine|china.*prescription|controlled.*drug.*china|china.*customs.*medicine)",
  "domain": "medical",
  "category": "legal_restriction",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "China allows reasonable personal-use quantities of most medicines, but psychotropic and narcotic drugs (e.g., some ADHD stimulants, strong painkillers, certain sedatives) are controlled and must be declared with a prescription and doctor's letter; some are prohibited. Customs can seize undeclared controlled drugs.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Bring controlled medicines (stimulants, strong opioids, certain sedatives) into China undeclared and without documentation",
      "why_fails": "Psychotropic and narcotic drugs are controlled in China; bringing them undeclared or without a prescription and doctor's letter can lead to seizure or legal trouble.",
      "fail_rate": 0.65,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "http://english.customs.gov.cn/",
        "https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Carry large quantities for a long stay assuming personal use is unlimited",
      "why_fails": "Only reasonable personal-use amounts are permitted; excess can be treated as import for trade and seized.",
      "fail_rate": 0.5,
      "condition": "Large quantity",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Carry reasonable personal quantities with the prescription and a doctor's letter (ideally translated), and declare controlled medicines at customs.",
      "success_rate": 0.85,
      "how": "Keep medication in original packaging with documentation; use the declaration channel for controlled drugs.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "http://english.customs.gov.cn/"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Check whether your medicine is prohibited and ask your doctor about a permitted alternative.",
      "success_rate": 0.78,
      "how": "Confirm legality before travel; arrange a substitute if your drug is banned.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": null,
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.82,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-01-01",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-06-14",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-14",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "medical/controlled-meds-declare-customs/cn"
  ]
}