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

China's Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs and the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department issued Announcement No. 49 of 2026, adjusting export control measures for certain unmanned aircraft items. Here is what foreign founders operating in China should understand.

China Adjusts Export Controls on Unmanned Aircraft Items

China's Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and the Central Military Commission Equipment Development Department have jointly issued Announcement No. 49 of 2026, setting out an optimization and adjustment of export control measures covering certain unmanned aircraft-related items. The announcement was published by the Ministry's Security and Control Bureau and takes effect from its issuance date of October 19, 2026.

The measure is grounded in China's Export Control Law, Foreign Trade Law, Customs Law and the Regulations on Export Control of Dual-Use Items. It was approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, and states that its purpose is to safeguard national security and interests. For foreign founders whose China-based companies manufacture, trade, re-export or procure drone-related components, the announcement defines which items now require a licence before leaving China.

Which Items Require an Export Licence?

Under the announcement, the following items may not be exported without authorization:

• Autopilots specially designed for unmanned aircraft (control list item 7A103.b, with reference customs commodity number 90142010.10).
• Technology related to items controlled under 7A103 (item 7E103).
• Unmanned aircraft and unmanned airships capable of controlled flight beyond the operator's natural line of sight and meeting specified characteristics (item 9A012.a). These include platforms with a maximum endurance of at least 30 minutes but less than 3 hours that can take off and fly in a stable, controllable manner in gust conditions of 46.3 km/h (25 knots) or above.
• Certain engines, including reciprocating piston or rotary internal combustion engines specially designed for flight above 15,420 m (50,000 ft), aero engines with maximum continuous power exceeding 16 kW, and turbojet engines with thrust of 400 N or more.
• Radio communication equipment specially designed for the unmanned aircraft or airships controlled under 9A012.a and meeting specified characteristics (item 9A012.e).
• Unmanned aircraft not controlled under 9A012 (item 9A112), including brushless motors specially designed for drone propellers, electronic speed controllers designed to pair with controlled items, and carbon-fibre composite propeller blades meeting specified characteristics.
• Technology for the development, production or use of items controlled under 9A012.b through 9A012.e and 9A901 (item 9E902).

The announcement also defines key terms used in the criteria, including "operator", "endurance" (calculated under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level with zero wind), "natural line of sight", "equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)" and "variable pitch function" for propeller blades.

Licensing and Customs Declaration Obligations

Exporters of the listed items must apply to the State Council's competent commerce department for a licence in accordance with the Export Control Law and the dual-use items regulations. The announcement also places responsibility on exporters for the accuracy of customs declarations.

Where a shipment falls within the listed items, the exporter must declare its characteristics and indicators to customs and note "subject to export control" in the remarks column of the declaration form. Where an item is not listed but its characteristics are close to the thresholds, or where its end use falls outside the listed scenarios but other indicators match, the exporter must still declare the relevant information and note "not subject to export control" in the remarks column.

If customs has doubts about the truthfulness of the declared information, it may raise a legal challenge, and the goods will not be released during that period.

Facilitated Procedures for Some Exports

The announcement introduces several procedural accommodations:

• For exports of items controlled under 9A012.a.1, exporters may obtain an export certificate by registering and filing the required information before each shipment, then export the goods themselves.
• For items controlled under 9A012.a and 9A112 that are used at exhibitions held inside China (excluding defence and police exhibitions) and returned to the original place of export in their original condition immediately after the event, or used at exhibitions outside China (excluding defence and police exhibitions) and returned to China in their original condition immediately afterwards, exporters may likewise use the registration-and-filing route before each shipment.
• Exporters that have established and effectively operate an internal compliance system for dual-use item exports, have relevant export records and relatively stable export channels and end users may benefit from facilitation measures such as general licences in accordance with the law.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

For foreign founders running China-based companies in the drone, aerospace, robotics or electronics supply chains, the announcement is a reminder that export control compliance starts with product classification. Companies should review their product portfolios against the listed control items and reference customs commodity numbers, and confirm whether any autopilots, airframes, engines, communication equipment, motors, speed controllers, propellers or related technology fall within scope.

Where items are in scope, the licence application to the commerce authorities should be built into shipment planning. Where items are near the thresholds or have end uses outside the listed scenarios, the declaration and remarks-column requirements still apply, so accurate technical documentation matters. Companies with recurring exports may also consider whether an internal compliance system and stable export channels could support eligibility for general licensing and other facilitation measures.

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

Foreign founders who need support registering and operating a company in China can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.