As a pharmacy, you must comply with strict legal requirements for the storage and display of different categories of poisons, in order to protect public safety and prevent misuse or abuse. Part I poisons (prescription medicines) must never be accessible to the public and must be stored in a “non-public area”, such as a dispensing room or locked cabinet. Part II poisons (medicines sold by medicine shops) may be displayed in public areas, but must be kept separate from other non-medicinal goods, such as food and cosmetics. Certain Part I poisons listed in Schedule 1 are subject to stricter requirements: they must be kept in a locked container, with the key held by a registered pharmacist. All poison storage areas should also be kept clean and dry and protected from direct sunlight to maintain medicine quality.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
What specific rules apply to our pharmacy (Authorised Seller of Poisons) when storing and displaying different categories of “poisons”?
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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