Decoding China's Veterinary Drug Approval Numbers: Your Guide to Authentic Animal Medicines

Counterfeit veterinary drugs threaten livestock health and food safety worldwide. In China, the mandatory veterinary drug approval number system provides a critical authentication tool. This guide deciphers these regulatory codes to help farmers, veterinarians, and distributors identify legitimate products.

The Regulatory Framework

China's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) mandates unique approval numbers for all veterinary products under Decree No. 4 (2015). This 10-character code verifies a drug's legality and must appear prominently on primary packaging in Chinese characters.

Breaking Down the Approval Number

Authentic codes follow this structure:
Category Code + Provincial ID + Manufacturer Number + Product ID

1. Category Code (2-4 Characters)

• Veterinary Feed Additives: "兽药添字" (Shòuyào Tiānzì)

• Biological Products: "兽药生字" (Shòuyào Shēngzì) - vaccines, diagnostics

• Pharmaceuticals: "兽药字" (Shòuyào Zì) - antibiotics, disinfectants

• Active Ingredients: "兽药原字" (Shòuyào Yuánzì)

• Temporary Licenses: "兽药临字" (Shòuyào Línzì)

2. Provincial ID (2 Digits)
   Indicates manufacturing region:

• 11: Beijing

• 31: Shanghai

• 44: Guangdong
  (Complete list published by MOA)

3. Manufacturer Number (3 Digits)
   Unique identifier for GMP-certified facilities

4. Product ID (4 Digits)
   MOA-assigned formulation identifier

Example: "兽药字440210045" = Pharmaceutical from Guangdong (44) by manufacturer #021, product #0045

5-Step Verification Process

1. Locate the code on immediate packaging

2. Validate the 10-character format

3. Confirm Chinese characters are present

4. Cross-check at China Veterinary Drug Information Network (ivdc.org.cn)

5. Verify manufacturer GMP status in MOA database

Why Approval Numbers Matter

• Combat Counterfeits: 28% of rural veterinary markets sold unapproved drugs (2023 FAO report)

• Ensure Efficacy: Approved drugs undergo stability/potency testing

• Prevent Residues: Regulates mandatory withdrawal periods

• Global Compliance: Essential for export documentation

Red Flags for Illicit Products

• Missing/incomplete approval numbers

• English-only packaging (violates MOA rules)

• Database mismatches

• Unverifiable manufacturer details

• Prices >30% below market average

Industry Compliance Solutions

GMP-certified packaging partners provide:

• MOA-compliant labeling surfaces

• Tamper-evident security features

• QR codes for instant verification

• Holographic anti-counterfeit labels

Regulatory Update: Blockchain-tracked approval numbers will launch for high-risk drugs (antibiotics/hormones) in 2025.

Veterinary drug packaging