Shanghai has introduced a package of measures aimed at supporting high-level projects by foreign-invested biopharmaceutical companies, according to a joint policy document recently released by several municipal authorities.

Among the measures, imported drugs approved in China may be allowed to enter the market even if they were manufactured before receiving Chinese regulatory approval, provided they meet product release requirements. Authorities will also streamline customs clearance and inspection procedures for imported medicines, particularly those urgently needed for clinical use.

The policy also calls for faster batch testing of biological products and import inspections, with sampling to be completed within three working days after imported medicines arrive in Shanghai.