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Licensing for Chinese Medicine traders to take full effect in Hong Kong
The Chinese Medicine Ordinance was passed in 1999 and the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) was set up in the same year to develop and implement the regulatory measures on Chinese medicine. In 2003, the government introduced the regulatory measures for licensing of Chinese medicines traders and registration of proprietary Chinese medicines. The provisions relating to the licensing system of Chinese medicine traders and the import and export control of Chinese medicines under The Chinese Medicine Ordinance will take full effect in Hong Kong commencing 11 Jan 2008.
Under the licensing system, traders engaged in retailing and wholesaling of Chinese herbal medicines, and manufacturers or wholesalers in proprietary Chinese medicines are required to obtain a licence from the CMCHK. According to the Ordinance, licenses are issued subject to the applicants’ compliance with the requirements of the Ordinance and the Chinese Medicine Board on premises, hygiene, storage, facilities and manpower qualifications. As of end of Dec 2007, the Chinese Medicine Board has issued about 7000 Chinese medicines traders licenses and transitional certificates. The import and export control over 36 types of Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance will also be implemented on 11 January 2008.
Dr. Lam Ping Yan, the Chairman of Chinese Medicine Board of Chinese Medicine Council spoke in the press conference that the provisions aimed at enhancing the standard of practice of Chinese medicine traders so as to safeguard public health. These measures can strengthen the control on Chinese medicines, effectively combat illegal operation of Chinese medicine business, and provide a more effective monitoring on the Chinese medicines imported into and exported out of Hong Kong. He reminded the public that they should buy Chinese medicines from licensed traders. He also urged traders who are still unlicensed to submit applications as soon as possible. Businesses must be stopped on 11 January until they have a license so as not to breach the law. Offenders will be liable to an imprisonment of 2 years and a fine of $100,000.
Details of the provisions under the Ordinance and the licensing system for Chinese medicines traders can be found in the website of the CMCHK (www.cmchk.org.hk). The “Handbook of the Application for Chinese Medicines Traders Licences” and the application forms are available at Chinese Medicine Division, Department of Health (DH) at 32/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East and Chinese Medicines Section of DH at 2/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon. For more information, please telephone 2574 9999 or visit CMCHK website.
Source : Department of Health, HKSAR www.dh.gov.hk
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