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China Adjusts Drone Export Controls: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

China’s Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department issued Announcement No. 49 of 2026, updating export control measures for certain unmanned aircraft items. Foreign founders should note the new licensing requirements and compliance obligations.

China Updates Drone Export Control List

On October 19, 2026, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the General Administration of Customs, and the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department jointly released Announcement No. 49 of 2026. The announcement optimizes and adjusts export control measures for specific unmanned aircraft-related items. It is issued under the Export Control Law, the Foreign Trade Law, the Customs Law, and the Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items, and follows approval by the State Council and the Central Military Commission. For foreign founders whose companies in China manufacture, trade, or export drone-related products, this update introduces new licensing and customs declaration obligations.

Key Items Now Subject to Export Licensing

The announcement specifies that the following items may not be exported without a license. The list covers certain autopilots, unmanned aircraft and airships, engines, communication equipment, and related components and technologies.

Autopilots and Related Technology

• 7A103.b. Autopilots specially designed for “unmanned aircraft” (reference customs commodity code 90142010.10).
• 7E103 Technology related to items controlled under 7A103.

Unmanned Aircraft and Airships (9A012.a)

Unmanned aircraft or unmanned airships capable of controlled flight beyond the “operator’s natural line of sight” and possessing any of the following characteristics are controlled (reference customs commodity codes 88010090.10 through 88069900.10):

• Maximum “endurance time” greater than or equal to 30 minutes but less than 3 hours, and the ability to take off and maintain stable controlled flight in gust conditions of 46.3 km/h (25 knots) or above.

Definitions from the announcement:

• “Operator” means a professional responsible for controlling the unmanned aircraft or airship, remotely or via programming from a ground control station, to ensure mission completion.
• “Endurance time” means the continuous flight time converted to International Standard Atmosphere conditions (ISO 2533:1975) at sea level with zero wind.
• “Natural line of sight” means the maximum distance at which an observer on the Earth’s surface can clearly see an object under ideal conditions without human interference or atmospheric pollution; in practice, atmospheric conditions are considered.

Engines and Propulsion (9A012.b)

• Reciprocating piston or rotary internal combustion engines specially designed for “high altitude” flight above 15,420 m (50,000 feet) (reference codes 84071010.10, 84071020.10).
• Aircraft engines with maximum continuous power exceeding 16 kW (reference codes 85012000.10, 85013200.10, 85013300.10, 85013400.10, 85014000.10, 85015200.10, 85015300.10, 84071010.10, 84071020.10, 84089092.30, 84089093.20, 84111110.10, 84111190.10, 84111210.10, 84111290.20, 84112100.10, 84112210.10, 84112220.10, 84112230.10, 84118100.02).
• Turbojet engines with thrust greater than or equal to 400 N (reference codes 84111110.10, 84111190.10, 84111210.10, 84111290.20).

Radio Communication Equipment (9A012.e)

Radio communication equipment specially designed for unmanned aircraft or airships controlled under 9A012.a, possessing any of the specified characteristics, is controlled (reference codes 85176299.10, 85176910.02, 85269200.10). The announcement also defines “equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)” as the radiated power in a given direction from an actual transmitting system, expressed as the transmit power required by an ideal isotropic antenna to produce the same power density.

Other Unmanned Aircraft and Components (9A112)

Unmanned aircraft not controlled under 9A012 are covered under 9A112 (reference codes 88010090.10 through 88069900.10). This includes:

• Brushless motors specially designed for unmanned aircraft propellers, with all specified characteristics (reference codes 85012000.10, 85013200.10, 85013300.10, 85013400.10, 85014000.10, 85015200.10, 85015300.10).
• Electronic speed controllers specially designed for items controlled under 9A901.a, with all specified characteristics (reference codes 85044099.70, 90328990.95).
• Propeller blades made of carbon fiber composite materials for unmanned aircraft, with any specified characteristic (reference code 88071000.10). The announcement notes that “variable pitch function” in 9A901.c.3 refers to structures such as a pitch pin at the blade root or holes at the blade root for connecting a pitch rocker arm.

Technology (9E902)

Technology for the development, production, or use of items controlled under 9A012.b, 9A012.c, 9A012.d, 9A012.e, and 9A901 is also controlled.

Licensing and Customs Procedures

Exporters must apply to the competent department of the State Council for business (MOFCOM) for a license in accordance with the Export Control Law and the Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items.

Exporters are responsible for the authenticity of customs declarations. For items listed in the announcement, exporters must declare characteristics and indicators to customs and note “subject to export control” in the remarks column of the customs declaration form. For items not listed but with similar characteristics or indicators, or where the use does not fall under the announced scope but other characteristics match, exporters must declare the characteristics and indicators and note “not subject to export control” in the remarks column. If customs has doubts about the authenticity of the declared information, it will raise questions in accordance with the law, and the export goods will not be released during the questioning period.

Facilitation Measures and Exemptions

The announcement provides certain simplified procedures:

• For exports of items controlled under 9A012.a.1, exporters may obtain export certificates by registering and filling in information before each export and then export independently.
• For items controlled under 9A012.a and 9A112 used for exhibitions held within China (excluding defense and police exhibitions), provided they are returned to the original export location in their original condition immediately after the exhibition; or for exhibitions held outside China (excluding defense and police exhibitions), provided they are returned to China in their original condition immediately after the exhibition, exporters may obtain export certificates by registration before each export and export independently.
• Export enterprises that have established an internal compliance system for dual-use item export control and operate it well, with relevant export records and relatively fixed export channels and end-users, may apply for general licenses and other facilitation measures in accordance with the law.

What This Means for Foreign Founders

If your China-based company handles drones, drone components, or related technology, you should review your product lines against the controlled items and characteristics listed above. Exporters must obtain licenses before shipping controlled items and must accurately declare characteristics to customs. Maintaining a robust internal compliance program can help qualify for general licenses and other facilitations. Given the technical definitions and customs code references, seeking professional advice is advisable to ensure compliance.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

For assistance with company registration and operations in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.