In a significant move for wildlife conservation, China has excluded Guilingji—a traditional medicine containing pangolin ingredients—from the 2025 edition of its national pharmacopoeia.
This decision, effective from October 1, 2025, reflects a shift towards ethical and sustainable practices in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Guilingji, once a confidential national prescription since 1957, included animal-derived components such as red ginseng, deer antler, seahorse, and pangolin. Its removal indicates a reevaluation of treatments lacking scientific support and posing conservation concerns.
While the delisting doesn’t equate to an outright ban, it diminishes the medicine’s legitimacy, making it less likely to be prescribed or promoted within clinical settings. This action aligns with China’s broader efforts to protect endangered species and modernize TCM practices.
Pangolins, among the most trafficked mammals globally, have suffered due to demand for their scales in traditional remedies. Removing such products from official medical standards is a step toward reducing illegal wildlife trade and promoting plant-based alternatives in healthcare.
Source: World Animal Protection
