No More Medicine That Harms This Endangered Animal

A traditional Chinese medicine containing the endangered pangolin as one of its key ingredients has been removed from the latest edition of the Pharmacopoeia, a promising development for wildlife protection.

Pangolins are now protected under the highest level of international and domestic conservation laws, leading to a shift in regulatory priorities.

Guilingji includes ingredients like red ginseng, deer antlers, seahorse, and pangolin scales and is among 19 proprietary Chinese medicines excluded from the new pharmacopoeia, which will come into effect on 1 October 2025. The animal-derived product, which has been prominent in Chinese medicine since it was classified as a first-level national secret prescription in 1957, raises ethical and conservation concerns. While Guilingji is not banned, its delisting reflects growing awareness to align traditional Chinese medicine with modern public health, science, and wildlife protection expectations.