Absolutely not. Expired medicines must not be discarded as ordinary rubbish. They are subject to strict disposal requirements to prevent them from re-entering the market or polluting the environment. As a licensed wholesaler or manufacturer, you must establish a formal medicine destruction procedure. First, isolate the expired medicines and label them clearly. Then engage a qualified chemical waste collector to handle them. Detailed records of the entire destruction process must be kept, including the medicine name, batch number, quantity, destruction date and method. At least two staff members, one of whom should be a manager, must jointly supervise and sign to confirm the process. These records must be available for inspection, and the Department of Health may request them during an inspection.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
We have a batch of expired medicines in our warehouse. How should we handle them? Can we simply throw them away as rubbish?
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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