China has revised its aviation law to bring drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under a stricter regulatory framework, significantly tightening safety and compliance norms.
Under the new rules, which will come into effect on July 1 next year, all entities involved in the design, production, import, maintenance and operation of drones will be required to obtain airworthiness certification, according to Reuters.
The move reflects Beijing’s intent to strengthen oversight as drone usage expands rapidly across sectors such as logistics, agriculture, surveillance and consumer applications. By extending aviation-grade safety standards to drones, authorities aim to reduce accident risks, improve accountability across the supply chain, and align unmanned aviation more closely with conventional civil aviation regulation.
