Renewal fees differ between licence types. For example, the current renewal and issue fee for a Western medicine Wholesale Dealer Licence is HK$2,150, while the renewal fee for a Listed Seller of Poisons is lower. The key point is that the legislation does not provide for “late filing fines”. If you miss the deadline for submitting a renewal application before the licence expires, the consequence is not a fine; the licence simply becomes invalid. This means you must stop business immediately and submit a completely new licence application. The overall process and cost are far greater than those of timely renewal. Renewal must therefore be treated as a top priority.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
How much does it cost to renew a licence? Is there a penalty for late submission?
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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