China has updated its Civil Aviation Law to formally regulate unmanned aircraft, introducing new requirements for drone certification and safety.

The revised law was approved on December 27 and will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Entities involved in drone design, production, import, maintenance, and operation must obtain airworthiness certification, and each drone will need a unique product identification code.

Micro, light, and small civil drones are exempt, while medium and large ones must apply to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The new rules come as China’s low-altitude economy continues to expand, including drone logistics.

Major manufacturers such as DJI and EHang will be affected by the tighter oversight.

🔗 Source: Reuters

Recent DJI developments