A data packet processing method and apparatus, where a storage apparatus disposed on a network side stores a correspondence between an identifier and data flow characteristic information. When configuring a policy for a data packet including a first identifier, a network-side device requests the storage apparatus for data flow characteristic information corresponding to the first identifier. A policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) receives a data packet that is sent by a user equipment (UE), matches the data packet against the data flow characteristic information, and when the data packet matches the data flow characteristic information, executes a policy on the data packet according to policy information corresponding to the first identifier.