Shenzhen SEZ anti-drug regulations to take effect next year

The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Anti-Drug Regulations will come into effect Jan. 1 next year, aiming to tackle key challenges in the city's anti-drug efforts through legislative measures.

The regulations clearly outline the supervisory responsibilities of relevant departments regarding drugs, narcotic plants and their seeds, seedlings, and precursor chemicals. These departments are mandated to enhance anti-drug testing and quarantine measures for items such as food, food additives, and tobacco products, as well as to strengthen the monitoring and management of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, or precursor chemicals regulated by the State, preventing these substances from entering drug-related channels.

The regulations also specify that the city’s public security authority, in collaboration with relevant departments, will compile and dynamically update a list of anti-drug monitoring subjects. They will establish and enforce management measures for substances such as ephedrine compound preparations and "laughing gas," as well as for monitoring items like nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers and centrifuges, and for non-material monitoring objects such as suspicious financial data. Additionally, the regulations clarify the obligations of higher education institutions, research institutes, medical institutions, and relevant financial institutions concerning the registration, reporting, and cooperation required for investigations related to anti-drug monitoring subjects.

To address the growing concern of drug-related crimes operating via the internet, the regulations require that internet operators, electronic information service providers, and app download platforms that identify information about drug-related illegal activities must immediately stop transmission of such information, halt service, eliminate the content, preserve relevant records, and report to applicable regulatory authorities. 

In light of the increasing prevalence and covert nature of cross-border drug-related activities in logistics and international shipping, the regulations require postal services, logistics companies, and express delivery firms to implement comprehensive drug prevention systems. These include verifying items upon receipt, conducting real-name registration, and providing anti-drug training for employees. Companies are also expected to equip themselves with necessary hardware and technical resources, strengthen anti-drug safety inspections of items, and, upon discovering problems, immediately stop service, report to regulatory authorities and public security organs, and assist in investigations. This approach aims to ensure significant safety within "small packages."