OBJECTIVE： To study the development and status quo of narcotics and psychotropic substances （NPS） in China since 1949， and to provide evidence for perfection of NPS control work in China. METHODS： The development and status quo of controlled substances control by China since 1949 were summarized and analyzed through retrieving and collecting literatures， reports and policies about NPS from domestic and foreign databases， news reports and related website. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS： Chinese narcotics and psychotropic substances control dated back to the release of Interim Regulations on Narcotics Control in 1950 and Regulations on Narcotics Control， Drug Administration Law and other regulations have been issued. It had experienced the progress from no legal basis to having laws to follow and from executive-leading to legalization. Narcotics and psychotropic substances were gradually unified in systematic control， and the level of regulations rised from department rules to administration regulation. At present， with Regulations on Narcotics and Psychotropic Drugs Control （2005） as regulatory basis and catalogue of narcotics and psychotropic substances （2013） as object， China Food and Drug Administration are in charge of the national regulation， cooperating with health department， agricultural department， traffic department and other departments.