According to the State Drug Administration (SDA), the amendment will be put into force on May 1.

Caffeine is among the country's top list of psychotropic drugs which are specially administered by the government. Cases of illegal trading have been found over the past years.

The new amendment stipulates that the manufacturing, dealing, using and import and export of caffeine should be tightly supervised by the SDA.

The raw materials of caffeine should be produced by manufacturers appointed by the SDA. Unlicensed dealers are not allowed to conduct business related to caffeine. Those unlicensed are also banned from purchasing the good.

Only those entitled by the official departments of foreign trade and economic cooperation are allowed to export caffeine. In addition, they also have to obtain a license from the SDA.

(Xinhua 04/09/2001)