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China Adds Veterinary Anaesthetic Tiletamine to Controlled-Substance List Effective July 1
The substance, used for pet surgery, is now regulated as strictly as fentanyl. South China Morning Post reported the move follows increased recreational vaping in entertainment venues.
South China Morning PostAudio version
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China classified tiletamine as a controlled substance on July 1, 2026, placing it under the same regulatory controls as fentanyl. South China Morning Post reported the ban targets recreational inhalation of the veterinary anaesthetic. Tiletamine, primarily used for surgical anaesthesia in cats and dogs, shares a chemical structure with ketamine.
The compound can be vaporised in heady e-cigarettes to produce visual and auditory hallucinations along with dissociation of consciousness. The substance gained popularity in billiard halls, discos, nightclubs and bars after it was omitted from earlier drug lists.
South China Morning Post reported that a paper in the fifth issue of Policing Studies in Chinese documented 1,605 individuals investigated for tiletamine abuse in Shenyang between November 2025 and early January 2026.
The classification took effect the day before the July 2 publication of the South China Morning Post article by Shi Huang.
Transparency
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