What are the main procedural differences between applying for a Chinese herbal medicine retail licence and a Wholesale Dealer Licence?

Although both Chinese herbal medicine retail licences and Wholesale Dealer Licences are administered by the Department of Health, they fall under different departments, with significantly different approval processes and areas of focus. First, the regulatory authorities differ: Chinese medicine licences are handled by the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office (CMRO), while Western medicine licences are handled by the Drug Office (DPO). Second, personnel requirements differ: Chinese medicine retailers must employ a sufficient number of qualified Chinese medicine practitioners according to the shop’s size, such as Chinese herbal medicine dispensers or Chinese medicine dispensers, whereas Western medicine wholesalers must appoint an RP. Third, premises requirements differ: Chinese herbal medicine retail shops need designated areas for displaying, storing and dispensing Chinese herbal medicines, and must comply with the storage guidance in the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards; Western medicine wholesale warehouses place greater emphasis on temperature and humidity control, security and logistics management. Finally, the governing legislation differs: the former is mainly governed by the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549), while the latter is governed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138).