Yes. A company may apply for and hold more than one pharmaceutical licence, depending on its business needs. For example, a company that manufactures medicines and also sells them to other wholesalers, hospitals or pharmacies must hold both a manufacturer’s licence and a wholesaler’s licence. Similarly, a company may hold licences for both wholesale of proprietary Chinese medicines and wholesale of Western medicines. The key is that the company must meet the relevant statutory requirements for every licensed activity. This means that if it holds two types of licence, its facilities, personnel, Quality Management System and operating procedures must meet the regulatory standards for both licences, and it must be able to clearly demonstrate compliant operations under each licence during inspections.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
Can a company hold several types of pharmaceutical licence at the same time, for example, both a wholesaler’s licence and a manufacturer’s licence?
A complete explanation of the regulatory basis, Drew Tang’s recommendations and risk alerts. The original material dates from 2025; read it alongside the latest official requirements.
Original guide, 2025 edition: These FAQs are provided for topic-based reference and have not all been individually checked against current rules. Please confirm fees, personnel, renewal, changes and product requirements against the professional in-depth guide for the relevant licence type and the official requirements in force at the time.
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