China
Is CBD Legal in China?
Status
Illegal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
March 17, 2026
The short answer
CBD is banned in cosmetics and restricted for all consumer products in China as of 2025. China's NMPA banned CBD as a cosmetic ingredient in 2021, and the 2025 enforcement environment has tightened further for cross-border e-commerce. CBD in food, dietary supplements, and beverages is not approved. Major cross-border e-commerce platforms have removed CBD listings under regulatory pressure.
Hemp cultivation is legal in certain provinces (notably Yunnan and Heilongjiang) for industrial fiber, seeds, and pharmaceutical research. But finished CBD consumer products cannot legally be sold to Chinese consumers. Brands attempting to sell via cross-border e-commerce face platform takedowns and regulatory action. No near-term consumer CBD legalization pathway is expected.
Related rules for China: Is Weed Legal in China? · Is Hemp Legal in China?
Key facts ·
China
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
Zero tolerance for THC and CBD in consumer products
Regulator
NMPA (National Medical Products Administration)
Key regulation
NMPA Cosmetics Supervision and Administration Regulation (2021); 2025 cross-border e-commerce enforcement
Effective
May 28, 2021
Adult-use cannabis
Medical cannabis
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
China exports hemp fiber, seeds, and industrial biomass legally. Importing finished CBD consumer products into China is prohibited. Cross-border e-commerce enforcement intensified in 2025 — platforms are required to remove CBD listings. Do not attempt to sell CBD goods to Chinese consumers through any channel.
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