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Accestra: Expert cDMF Registration Services

How to apply for a China Drug Master File (cDMF)

Accestra supports API manufacturers and MAH holders with end-to-end cDMF strategy, dossier preparation, and submission coordination to the NMPA/CDE – with a focus on compliant, audit-ready documentation.

What is a cDMF?

A cDMF, or China Drug Master File, is analogous to the Drug Master File (DMF) used in the United States but is specific to the regulatory requirements of China, the second-largest market in the world. It is part of China’s regulatory framework for pharmaceutical products, managed by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), formerly known as the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).

The path to cDMF

Like the U.S. DMF, the China DMF also encompasses three product scopes/categories and provides two registration pathways.

Product categories:

  • Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)
  • Excipients
  • Packaging materials

Registration Pathways:

  1. Binding review pathway (similar to the EU ASMF, covering all three product categories)
  2. Stand-alone review pathway (similar to the EU CEP, applicable to API products only).

Why do you need a cDMF?

Navigating the regulatory requirements in China’s pharmaceutical and medical device industry, especially for API suppliers and producers, can be overwhelming due to their intricate complexity.

These companies often face significant delays or rejections of their product registrations due to the constantly evolving compliance landscape, but that’s not their biggest challenge.

Despite aligning with international regulations like the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), China still requires a local legal entity to act as the registration representative for a non-Chinese company.

Failing to find a local representative with expertise in China’s Regulatory Affairs can result in costly non-compliance and regulatory missteps, such as:

  • Delayed Product Launches
  • Fines and Penalties
  • Loss of Licensing
  • Market Access Denial
  • Financial losses and logistical challenges due to product recalls

You need a lot of time and energy to review this paperwork.

And remember that even minor oversights or mistakes can have significant consequences, such as financial and reputational damage.

The China DMF system allows pharmaceutical API manufacturers and suppliers to submit detailed and confidential information about facilities, processes, or materials used in drug manufacturing, processing, packaging, or storage.

This system ensures the NMPA has access to necessary data to assess compliance with regulatory standards without exposing proprietary information to the public or competitors.

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A Team of Experts on the Chinese Regulatory Field

With Accestra’s help, you’ll have a team of experts in strategic locations like Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing who can leverage extensive local knowledge and strong connections with regulatory bodies to offer a smooth and expedited pathway to market entry.

Accestra has a successful track record with over 100 product registrations covering but not limited to the following services:

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Advisory

  • Pre-IND, Pre-NDA, Pre-BLA Meeting Application
  • IND, CTA, BE Application
  • NDA, BLA, ANDA Registration
    DMF Filing for APIs, Excipients, Packaging Materials
  • Pharmacovigilance Services
  • Regulatory Intelligence & Advisory
  • China Market Access Roadmap Advisory

Medical Device Regulatory Advisory

  • Medical Device Classification Determination
  • Medical Device Filing for Class I Products
  • Medical Device Registration for Class II & III Products
  • Medical Device Raw Materials/Key Components Mater File Filing
  • Regulatory Intelligence & Advisory

Food Regulatory Advisory

  • GACC China Customs Registration
  • China Food Ingredients Check
  • China Food Labelling Compliance
  • Food Supplement Registration
  • Regulatory Intelligence & Advisory

Reduce risks, enhance speed to market, and ensure sustained compliance

Make Accestra your regulatory partner to succeed in the Chinese market with ease with 0 worries.

How to Apply for a Chinese DMF?

Accestra’s Step-by-Step Dossier Preparation and Submission